L'Oreal sales fall in first quarter, e-commerce surges

PARIS, April 16 (Reuters) - Maybelline make-up manufacturer L'Oreal OREP.PA on Thursday posted a 5% fall in comparable first quarter revenue, after lockdowns in China and elsewhere to fight the coronavirus pandemic hit demand and sparked store closures.The French firm - the world's biggest cosmetics company, which is also home to brands like Lancome - said sales in the January to March period stood at 7.2 billion euros, down 4.3% on a reported basis from a quarter earlier.That marked a 4.8% drop..