London, Jan 28, 2026, 08:53 GMT — Regular session
- Unilever shares fell 0.7% in early trade, slightly lagging the FTSE 100.
- European stocks paused after a two-day rally, shifting focus to today’s Fed decision
- Unilever is set to release its full-year results on Feb. 12, with investors zeroing in on volume growth and margin strength
Unilever (ULVR.L) shares slipped 0.7% to 4,831.5 pence by 0851 GMT, with the FTSE 100 down 0.1%. The stock has been confined to a narrow band, oscillating between 4,820.5 and 4,847.5 pence so far.
Unilever stumbled early ahead of its full-year results, due in two weeks. The maker of Dove and Hellmann’s faces questions over its handling of pricing, promotions, and unit sales as consumer caution persists. The company will report Q4 and full-year 2025 numbers on Feb. 12, with a webcast at 0800 UK time. CEO Fernando Fernandez will speak at the CAGNY conference in Orlando on Feb. 17.
European stocks paused after rallying for two days. The STOXX 600 stayed flat near 0804 GMT, with tech shares keeping the index afloat. Investors are now awaiting the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision due later Wednesday.
Currency fluctuations unsettled multinationals once more. The dollar hovered near four-year lows following comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, pushing the euro back above $1.20 and sterling to levels unseen since 2021. Kyle Rodda, senior market analyst at Capital.com, said, “It shows there’s a crisis of confidence in the U.S. dollar.” Reuters
In London on Tuesday, the FTSE 100 rose 0.6%, boosted by a rally in banks ahead of a busy week of earnings and the Fed’s looming decision. Precious-metal miners retreated after a strong rally the previous day. A Reuters poll showed most economists expect the Bank of England to hold rates at 3.75% in February. The same report noted British retailers faced their fastest price increases since February 2024.
Unilever’s stock now reflects its leaner setup after changes last month. The company spun off its Magnum ice cream unit in early December and carried out an 8-for-9 share consolidation. The restructured shares are scheduled to begin trading on the London Stock Exchange on Dec. 9, according to Reuters.
Investors are tuning out the quarterly earnings and zeroing in on sentiment: will volumes stay steady now that price hikes are slowing? And can margins hold firm as competitors boost their promotional pushes?
That said, the February update might underwhelm. Should volume growth taper off or cost pressures and discounting prove harsher than expected, the stock could lose the defensive appeal that drew investors in earlier this year.
