Reckitt warns of £150m war hit

Reckitt Benckiser shares slumped following a cautious trading update that highlighted the growing impact of the Middle East conflict on the real economy.

The company stated that a prolonged period of oil prices at $110 per barrel would significantly increase production costs for its plastic-heavy product lines.

Additionally, a weak cold and flu season in the US has further dampened revenue growth.

Management is now implementing cost-saving measures to offset the energy shock while warning that consumer demand may soften as inflation rises.