HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters Breakingviews) – Corona Capital is a column updated throughout the day by Breakingviews columnists around the world with short, sharp pandemic-related insights.
Packs of Heineken beer are displayed for sale in a Casino supermarket in Nice, France, January 16, 2017.
– Sony
– Carlsberg vs. Heineken
– Heathrow vs. CDG
BUNKER DOWN. Sony is ready for another round of lockdowns. Operating profit from its video-games division topped $1 billion in the three months to September, a huge increase from a year earlier but down 15% sequentially. Vacationers taking advantage of relaxed pandemic measures across Europe and the United States over the summer is a factor. Now many European countries are bracing for another surge of Covid-19 infections, and restrictions, as the weather cools. For Sony, its the perfect time for them to be trapped at home with its next-generation PlayStation.
Set to launch on Nov. 12, the $500 PS5 will be the Japanese companys first console in seven years. The head of Sonys entertainment arm told Reuters that based on pre-orders, demand was considerable. An impressive pipeline of exclusive PlayStation titles like Final Fantasy XVI gives Sony an advantage over rival Microsoft, which will release its long-awaited console around the same time. At least for Sony shareholders, staying in may not be so bad. (By Robyn Mak)
DRINKING BUDDIES. Brewers China addiction is likely to intensify. Consider Denmarks Carlsberg, which raised its full-year earnings guidance thanks to increased demand in the worlds second-largest economy. The success will not be lost on Dutch heavyweight Heinekens new boss Dolf van den Brink, who could offer no such certainty. The mixed fortunes were reflected in the duos shares: Heineken fell nearly 5% on Wednesday while Carlsbergs stock bounced 2%.
Chinas recovery is lifting many boats. Although it was ground zero for the pandemic, the Peoples Republic has deftly arrested the virus. That led to a 4% sales boost for Carlsberg in the quarter ending Sept. 30. Heineken also saw double-digit volume growth in China, but its focus on the United States and Europe, where countries like France are considering national lockdowns, makes it vulnerable. Pivoting east is becoming the easiest way to put some fizz into earnings. (By Aimee Donnellan)
DETHRONED. No need to wait for Brexit: Londons Heathrow has already lost its mantle as Europes busiest airport to Pariss Charles de Gaulle, thanks to Covid-19. The revelation was made by Heathrows boss John Holland-Kaye, as he announced terrible third-quarter financials. The airport lost 1.5 billion pounds in the first nine months of 2020, an average of 5.5 million pounds per day. It also attracted 300,000 fewer travellers than Pariss 19.3 million during that period.
Holland-Kaye blamed the United Kingdoms slow adoption of passenger testing, which he sees as an alternative to a 14-day mandatory quarantine. The first UK airport testing only began in October and is available in two of five terminals. Heathrow has enough cash to stay open for the next 12 months even without revenue. France, however, may go into another lockdown, sending shares of De Gaulle operator ADP down 6% on Wednesday. The busiest-airport crown may yet return to England. (By Karen Kwok)
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Breakingviews – Corona Capital: Sony, Beer, Heathrow vs. De Gaulle – Reuters
