French Connection's half-year loss narrows, but sales drop

The British fashion retailer said overall revenue fell 10.5 percent to 27.3 million pounds, as like-for-like sales in the UK, Europe were 7 percent lower.French Connection has closed stores and hired new management and design teams as it struggles to fend off competition from fast-fashion rivals such as ASOS , Forever 21 and Inditex'sZara.The company expects to close eight more stores this year and has reviewed lease contracts of various other loss-making stores, it said, citing deterioration of