Always quoteworthy, Warren Buffett once said: 'I try to invest in businesses that are so wonderful that an idiot can run them. Because sooner or later, one will.'While the maxim has merit, management does make a difference and management changes can have a major impact ? for good or bad ? on even the best businesses.The surprise departure of Unilever (ULVR) chief executive Hein Schumacher on...

London's FTSE 100 closed in the green on Tuesday, though more subdued in the afternoon against its morning highs, as US stocks were shaken by weak consumer confidence data.The FTSE 100 index closed up 9.69 points, 0.1%, at 8,668.67. The FTSE 250 ended down 36.11 points, 0.2%, at 20,448.28, while the AIM All-Share closed down 2.82 points, 0.4%, at 708.06.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 867.14,...

Blue chip stocks were up a bit in London, Paris and Frankfurt at Tuesday midday, with banks and defence stocks in the UK enjoying a boost.The UK's aviation regulator has noted the 'benefits to consumers' of England's Gatwick airport expanding. The Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, made the comments as it announced support for the West Sussex airport's proposed new commitments over the next four...

CEO to step down on 1 MarchFernando Fernandez promoted to hot seatUnilever reaffirms 2025 outlookAfter a largely successful 18 months in the role, Hein Schumacher is to step down as Unilever's (ULVR) CEO on 1 March, news that stunned the market and sent shares in the global consumer goods giant down 3.2% to £43.39 in early deals on 25 February.Schumacher's turnaround strategy has borne early...

Stock prices in London opened mixed on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 up a notch despite Unilever shares falling as its Chief Executive Officer Hein Schumacher is set to leave the company.Separately, US President Donald Trump's claimed that tariffs of up to 25% on Canadian and Mexican imports are moving forward as planned, following last month's last-minute pause which ends next Tuesday.The...

London stocks were mixed on Thursday, but European equities closed in the green on news of progress towards a possible peace deal in Ukraine.The FTSE 100 index closed down 42.72 points, 0.5%, at 8,764.72. The FTSE 250 ended up 35.64 points, 0.2%, at 20,916.14, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.19 of a point at 723.20.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.5% at 877.79, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.3%...

London's FTSE 100 traded lower around midday on Thursday, as poorly received earnings weighed, missing out on a Ukraine peace hope-led rally elsewhere in Europe.The FTSE 100 index traded down 58.01 points, 0.7%, at 8,749.43. The FTSE 250 was down 16.97 points, 0.1%, at 20,863.53, and the AIM All-Share fell 0.71 of a point, 0.1%, at 722.68.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.6% at 876.73, the Cboe UK 250...

Amsterdam the primary Ice Cream listing destinationOrganic growth deceleratesMarket growth to remain 'soft'Packaged consumer goods powerhouse Unilever (ULVR) delivered encouraging full-year 2024 results with volume growth across every division and margins on the rise.The cash-generative Hellmann's mayonnaise-to-Dove soap maker also announced a new €1.5 billion share buyback.Which begs the...

UK indices closed Monday in the green amid Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tendering his resignation and reports of a possible watering down of Trump's tariff agenda.The FTSE 100 index ended up 25.68 points, 0.3%, at 8,249.66. The FTSE 250 climbed 21.25 points, 0.1%, at 20,612.65. The AIM All-Share rose 3.55 points, 0.5%, at 728.95.The Cboe UK 100 closed up 0.2% at 826.32, the Cboe UK...

London's blue chip index was up milder than its peers in Paris and Frankfurt at Monday midday, as UK service sector growth for December was softer than anticipated.As well as Monday's composite and services PMI readings, the first full trading week of 2025 has various jobs data releases from the US culminating in Friday's nonfarm payrolls.More than half of UK companies plan to raise prices by...

Fourth year of underperformanceConsumer brand exposure reducedTrain optimistic for better future returnsVeteran fund manager Nick Train, manager of the well-followed Finsbury Growth & Income Trust (FGT), insisted he is more enthused by the company's prospects than at 'any time this century', despite the company reporting a fourth consecutive year of underperformance versus the...

Consumer goods goliath Unilever (ULVR) is pushing ahead with the IPO (initial public offering) of its ice cream unit and plans to slim down rather than spin off its food division, as CEO Hein Schumacher's turnaround strategy continues to gain traction.At the FTSE 100 giant's recent investor event (22 November), the Hellmann's mayonnaise-to-Dove soap maker set out its strategic priorities under...

Q3 sales top forecastsFull year guidance reiteratedIce Cream separation on trackConsumer goods giant Unilever's (ULVR) shares rose 4% to £48.39 after the Dove-to-Domestos maker reported a fourth quarter of positive volume growth on the spin and reiterated its full year outlook.CEO Hein Schumacher has reinvigorated growth at the Marmite-to-Sunsilk maker, whose shares have materially...

The FTSE 100 made a bright start on Thursday, looking to break a four-day losing run, supported by well received earnings.The advance in London follows weak trading on Wall Street, where pre-US election and interest rate nerves hit stocks.The FTSE 100 index traded up 55.66 points, 0.7%, at 8,314.30. The FTSE 250 was up 25.76 points, or 0.1%, at 20,855.69, and the AIM All-Share added 1.40...

European stocks were mixed on Wednesday morning, with the FTSE 100 trading resiliently, after China announced it will hold a fiscal policy-focused conference this weekend amid a backdrop of investor nerves for the Asian economy.The FTSE 100 index was up 38.24 points, 0.5%, at 8,228.85.London's powerhouse listings AstraZeneca, Shell and Unilever were all in the green in early trade, aiding the...

Schneider pays price for lacklustre performanceNestle forced to slow price increasesNo quick fix for FreixeShares in Nestle (NESN:SWX) cheapened 2.5% to CHF 87.3 on Friday as investors digested news of the abrupt departure of Mark Schneider, who is being replaced as CEO of the world's biggest packaged food company by Laurent Freixe following eight years in the hot seat.The Swiss multinational...

There is a phrase in business ? 'shrink to greatness' ? meaning companies selling or demerging assets and focusing on what they do best.You might call it streamlining, others might say it is an admission that the previous strategy did not work and the company was too bloated.This trend is firmly in motion across the UK stock market with nine companies in the FTSE 100 either in the middle of...

Unilever (ULVR) £47.05Gain to date: 23%Shares flagged the attractions of consumer goods goliath Unilever (ULVR) at £38.19 in January 2024 on the grounds the Dove-to-Domestos maker's intrinsic strengths were underappreciated by the market.We also hoped new chief executive Hein Schumacher could reinvigorate growth and revitalise the FTSE 100 firm's share price.On 15 February, we urged readers...

H1 organic growth of 4.1%Power Brands spearheading growthMargin guidance upgrade boosts stockAnother quarter of improving volumes, positive progress with its cost-cutting drive and a massive upgrade to full year margin guidance were key reasons why consumer goods goliath Unilever (ULVR) led the FTSE 100 higher today.The planned sale of its ice cream division, which could fetch as much of £15...

Business simplification plan unveiledHome care and nutrition brands up for saleFull year sales guidance cutShares in Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) rallied 4% to £45.86 after the consumer goods powerhouse unveiled plans to sell a raft of non-core homecare brands and said it was reviewing options for its troubled infant formula business.In a similar strategy to many of its rivals including Unilever...