London, March 2, 2026, 09:53 GMT — Regular session
- Reckitt Benckiser shares fall about 1.3% in early trade, near a 52-week high
- Oil jumps on Middle East conflict, adding to inflation and cost worries
- Investors look to Reckitt’s March 5 results for 2026 guidance and margin signals
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc shares fell 1.3% to 6,428 pence by 0930 GMT, after opening at 6,454 pence and trading as low as 6,400 pence. The FTSE 100 was down about 0.8% at the same time. 1
The move comes as a broad risk-off tone spread across European markets after a fresh escalation in the Middle East conflict. Energy and defence names held up better, while much of the rest of the market slipped. 2
Oil was the loudest price on screens. “The key factor here is the closing of the Strait of Hormuz,” Ajay Parmar, director of energy and refining at ICIS, said, as traders weighed disruptions through the route that carries roughly a fifth of global seaborne oil trade. 3
In broader markets, the oil spike fed straight into inflation nerves and a hit to risk appetite. “At least in the short term, the disruption to global energy supply is substantial,” Michael Langham, emerging markets economist at Aberdeen Investments, said. 4
UK data, meanwhile, offered a steadier read on activity but not on costs. Britain’s manufacturing PMI — a survey where readings above 50 signal growth — edged down to 51.7 in February, and S&P Global flagged stronger cost pressures; “UK manufacturing has made an encouraging start to 2026,” said Rob Dobson, a director at S&P Global Market Intelligence. 5
For Reckitt, the next company marker is close. The group is due to announce its full-year 2025 results on Thursday, March 5, with an investor presentation scheduled for 0830 GMT at the London Stock Exchange. 6
The session is also set to run as a webcast, according to the event listing. Traders will be listening for guidance on volumes and pricing, and whether management sees any near-term margin pinch from higher input and logistics costs. 7
Other consumer names were mixed in early London dealing. Unilever shares were down 0.7% at 5,429 pence, while Haleon was up 0.5% at 407.8 pence. 8
The obvious “but” is that the macro story is doing the work right now — and it is unstable. “Middle East tail risks have increased,” Rong Ren Goh, a portfolio manager in the fixed income team at Eastspring Investments, said in a Reuters report on investor positioning, a reminder that even defensive staples can get pulled around when markets start repricing oil and inflation risk. 9
Next up for Reckitt is Thursday’s results and the accompanying presentation on March 5, as investors look for 2026 targets and any change in tone on costs, pricing and demand.
