Jul 29, 2026 · 6 min
European stocks jump as Reckitt and Kering post strong earnings
Reckitt and Kering Jump, Glencore Rises
Strong quarterly reports from major European firms offer critical signals on consumer demand in Asia and the resilience of global commodity trading.
- 1Reckitt Benckiser shares surged following high demand for hygiene products in China and India.
- 2Gucci sales beat estimates to lift parent company Kering and signal a luxury market recovery.
- 3Glencore posted massive first-half trading profits on track for a record-breaking year.
Don't miss
Louise Moon details how Glencore's trading team delivered massive first-half profits amid soaring global energy prices.
The brief
European markets are showing fresh signs of life as major corporate players deliver strong second-quarter earnings, signaling potential turnarounds across the consumer goods, luxury fashion, and commodity trading sectors.
Reckitt Benckiser led the consumer surge, driven by robust demand for hygiene products in China and India, while luxury giant Kering saw its shares jump after flagship brand Gucci beat sales estimates to spark recovery hopes.
Meanwhile, commodity trading giant Glencore posted massive first-half profits, putting the firm on track for a record-breaking fiscal year as global energy prices remain elevated and drive trading desk revenues.
What was said on this episode
13 statements · 11 positive · 2 neutral
Reckitt’s transformation is beginning to produce positive results.
“their transformation that they've been kind of embarking on for a while is starting to pay off”
Listen at 1:02
Reckitt’s core-brand sales rose 4.2%, exceeding estimates.
“sales of Core Record, which is now their focus, so things like Dettol durax that rose 4.2%, which is comfortably ahead of estimates”
Listen at 1:08
Reckitt maintained its full-year outlook.
“They also maintain their full year outlook.”
Listen at 1:17
Reckitt announced a £500 million share buyback.
“They announced a share buyback of £500 million.”
Listen at 1:19
Reckitt’s turnaround is showing evidence of success.
“this is kind of evidence of their turnaround paying off”
Listen at 1:25
Reckitt’s growth has been driven partly by emerging markets.
“growth has also been driven by emerging markets”
Listen at 1:43
Reckitt shares rose about 7% following the update.
“shares up about 7% on the back of that”
Listen at 1:53
Reckitt’s sales-volume growth reflects more units sold, not merely higher prices.
“the actual number of sales is more rather than just price rises for Reckitt”
Listen at 2:05
Gucci sales fell 2%, outperforming analysts’ expectations for a larger decline.
“Gucci sales top estimate. So they fell 2%, but analysts had expected them to fall more than 3%.”
Listen at 2:41
Kering shares rose as much as 10% after the Gucci results.
“carrying shares rising as much as 10%”
Listen at 3:03
Glencore’s previous trading-profit record was US$6.4 billion in 2022.
“The previous record is US$6.4 billion. That was in 2022.”
Listen at 3:40
Commodity trading houses are benefiting from war-disrupted energy markets.
“commodity trading houses are kind of reaping the benefits of energy markets being upended by the war”
Listen at 3:55
The AI boom is supporting metal prices.
“metal prices being buoyed by this boom in AI as well”
Listen at 4:02
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
Mentioned
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.