Hermes defies Hong Kong turmoil as Chinese demand buoys sales

PARIS (Reuters) - Thriving demand in mainland China drove sales higher at luxury brand Hermes in the third quarter, helping the Birkin-handbag maker offset a slowdown in Hong Kong, and the company said on Thursday that the momentum had carried into October. Several months of pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, which descended into clashes earlier this week, have forced France's Hermes and other luxury goods labels to temporarily shut stores and lose out on business in a key shopping hub...