Sparkle fades as coronavirus risks wiping out luxury goods growth

FILE PHOTO: A cleaner worker wearing a mask walks at a shopping mall in Beijing's central business area, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo

MILAN (Reuters) - The luxury goods industry normally relishes the spotlight, but in the case of China's coronavirus it is rueing being one of the most globally exposed sectors to an epidemic that risks all-but wiping out its sales growth this year.

Brands from Burberry to Estee Lauder are shutting stores and cutting profit forecasts as business in the industry's biggest market has virtually ground to a halt.