Sotheby’s, the global auction house, showed a decline in profit by 11% in the second-quarter: net income marked $95.3 million ($1.49 per share). This is a drop from $107.3 million ($1.64 per share) versus the same time last year, however it is a net profit versus a net loss from last quarter. According to Sotheby’s, the decline is due to recent change to auction schedule. Chief Executive William Ruprecht assured that while wealthy customers with continues to drive the business, Sotheby’s is less likely to be affected by economic woes. Despite the profit drop the news was seen by some analysts as positive in its show of resilience. According to one analyst quoted by Bloomberg: “The demand side is very strong. It’s driven by commodity wealth, particularly in oil.”
Sotheby’s corporate site
Sotheby’s Says Rich Still Buying [Forbes]
Sotheby’s second-quarter profit falls [Reuters UK]
Sotheby’s Profit Falls 11 Percent After Sale Change [Bloomberg]
