This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41677867
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| FTSE 100 falls as Unilever sales slow | FTSE 100 falls as Unilever sales slow |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Shares in Unilever led the UK market lower after the consumer goods giant reported slowing sales growth. | Shares in Unilever led the UK market lower after the consumer goods giant reported slowing sales growth. |
| The company, whose brands include Dove, Marmite and Ben & Jerry's, said underlying sales in the third quarter of the year rose 2.6% to £13.2bn. | The company, whose brands include Dove, Marmite and Ben & Jerry's, said underlying sales in the third quarter of the year rose 2.6% to £13.2bn. |
| That was slower than the 3% growth seen in the first half of the year, and was also below analysts' expectations. | That was slower than the 3% growth seen in the first half of the year, and was also below analysts' expectations. |
| Unilever cited poorer weather in Europe and hurricanes in the US for the sales slowdown. | Unilever cited poorer weather in Europe and hurricanes in the US for the sales slowdown. |
| However, it said emerging markets such as India and China had seen "signs of improvement". | However, it said emerging markets such as India and China had seen "signs of improvement". |
| Shares in Unilever were down 4.4% by lunchtime. That made it the biggest faller in the FTSE 100, with the index down 37.41 points at 7,505.46. | |
| In the FTSE 250, shares in IWG plunged 34% after the serviced office provider issued a profit warning. | |
| The company said third-quarter sales had been weaker than expected, and group operating profit for 2017 was set to be "materially below" market forecasts. | |
| Interserve was another firm to be hit by a profit warning. Shares in the construction and support services company sank 30% after it said trading in the third quarter had deteriorated and it warned it could breach its banking agreements. | |
| On the currency markets, the pound lost ground after UK retail sales figures came in weaker than expected. | |
| Retail sales volumes dropped 0.8% in September, reversing a jump in August, according to the Office for National Statistics. | |
| The news sent the pound to as low as $1.3126 against the dollar before it recovered to $1.3180. Against the euro, sterling was down 0.6% at €1.1135. |