London, Feb 26, 2026, 08:01 GMT — Regular session
- Reckitt shares eased in early London trade after a weaker close on Wednesday
- Markets remain sensitive to tariff headlines and AI-linked volatility
- Reckitt’s full-year results on March 5 are the next key test
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc shares edged down in early London dealing on Thursday, trading about 0.1% lower at 6,338 pence. The stock fell 0.7% on Wednesday and has ranged between 6,328p and 6,342p so far on Thursday, with early volumes light. (Investing)
The timing matters because the next week is heavy on big-picture mood swings and company-specific deadlines. Reckitt is a defensive consumer name, but defensives don’t float above the weather when money rotates fast and guidance season is close.
Across Europe, shares closed at a record high on Wednesday, helped by a bounce in banks after HSBC raised a key lending target. UBS strategists led by Mark Haefele said “volatility is likely to persist”, while XTB’s Kathleen Brooks said the latest AI developments could point to tools “integrat(ing) with software providers rather than replace them.” Diageo, another UK consumer staple, slid 12.7% after cutting its annual sales and profit forecast and slashing its dividend, dragging the broader food and beverages index lower. (Reuters)
In London, the FTSE 100 closed flat on Tuesday as miners and utilities gains offset losses in financials, with investors still watching shifting U.S. tariff policy and the path for UK rates. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey pointed to the possibility of a March rate cut but warned services inflation remained high; Swissquote Bank’s Ipek Ozkardeskaya said “investors remained fragile.” (Reuters)
That backdrop leaves Reckitt trading more on positioning than on headlines. When markets feel confident, defensives can lag. When the tape gets nervous, they can catch a bid — until the next set of numbers lands.
Reckitt is due to publish its full-year results on March 5, and it said it will hold an investor presentation at the London Stock Exchange at 08:30 GMT that day. (Reckitt)
Investors will be looking for the usual pressure points: 2026 sales and profit guidance, how much growth came from volumes versus pricing, and whether costs or promotions are starting to bite. Any change in tone on brand spending or efficiency efforts can move a stock like this quickly.
A cautious outlook would put the focus back on how far the shares have already run this year, and how much optimism is baked in. A steadier message — even without fireworks — could be enough to keep sellers at bay after this week’s drift.
For now, traders are watching two clocks: the next tariff headline, and March 5, when Reckitt’s results and outlook set the direction for RKT in the weeks ahead.
