Zurich: Swatch Group, the world’s largest watchmaker, posted a 52-per cent fall in first-half profits on Thursday, with sales hurt by declining tourism after attacks in France and Belgium. The Swiss-based company also said revenues were down in its crucial market of Hong Kong. A company statement put first-half profits at 263 million Swiss francs (Dh979 million, $267 million, €242 million), 52 per cent lower than during the same period of 2015. The entire luxury watch sector has seen trimmed sales on the island since Chinese authorities introduced new anticorruption measures in 2013 that included curbs on extravagant gifts.