London, March 2, 2026, 09:53 GMT — Regular session
- Reckitt Benckiser slips roughly 1.3% at the open, still hovering close to its 52-week peak
- Oil surged as conflict escalated in the Middle East, fueling fresh concerns over inflation and higher costs.
- Reckitt’s results on March 5 are in focus, with investors scanning for any clues on 2026 guidance and where margins might be headed.
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc slipped 1.3% to 6,428 pence as of 0930 GMT, dipping from an open of 6,454 pence and hitting an intraday low of 6,400 pence. The FTSE 100 was off around 0.8% at that hour.
European markets turned lower on a renewed burst of selling, with a new flare-up in the Middle East stoking risk aversion. Energy and defence stocks managed to outperform, but most sectors lost ground.
Oil prices grabbed the spotlight. “The key factor here is the closing of the Strait of Hormuz,” said Ajay Parmar, director of energy and refining at ICIS, as markets reacted to threats facing the vital corridor that handles about a fifth of global seaborne oil. Reuters
Oil’s surge rattled inflation watchers and dampened risk appetite across broader markets. “At least in the short term, the disruption to global energy supply is substantial,” said Michael Langham, emerging markets economist at Aberdeen Investments. Reuters
UK numbers painted a calmer picture of activity, less so on expenses. The country’s manufacturing PMI slipped to 51.7 for February—still above the 50 mark that indicates expansion. Cost pressures picked up, S&P Global noted. “UK manufacturing has made an encouraging start to 2026,” S&P Global Market Intelligence director Rob Dobson said. Reuters
Reckitt’s next milestone comes up soon. The company will report its 2025 full-year results on Thursday, March 5, and plans an investor presentation at 0830 GMT at the London Stock Exchange.
The event will be webcast, the listing shows. Market participants are keen for any detail on volume trends, pricing, and management’s view on whether rising input and logistics bills could pressure margins soon.
Consumer stocks pointed in different directions early in London. Unilever dropped 0.7% to 5,429 pence, but Haleon edged up 0.5%, trading at 407.8 pence.
The big caveat? Macro is in the driver’s seat at the moment—and it’s a bumpy ride. “Middle East tail risks have increased,” said Rong Ren Goh, a portfolio manager on Eastspring Investments’ fixed income desk, in a Reuters piece on how investors are positioned. Even safe-haven staples aren’t immune, he pointed out, when markets start recalibrating for oil or inflation shocks. Reuters
Reckitt’s next milestone: results due this Thursday, with a presentation set for March 5. Investors will be scanning for 2026 targets and any fresh signals on costs, pricing, and demand.
