After a positive first-quarter trading update which helped power the shares to a 16% gain year-to-date all eyes are on Unilever’s (ULVR) first-half update on 25 July.

In the three months to March, the group reported 4.4% underlying sales growth with a positive performance in all five divisions led by Beauty and Wellbeing where growth topped 7% during the quarter.

Moreover, the firm’s ‘Power Brands’, which account for 75% of group sales, notched up growth of 6.1% led by Dove, Knorr, Rexona and Sunsilk.

New chief executive Hein Schumacher said the company was ‘implementing the Growth Action Plan at speed, focused on three clear priorities: delivering higher-quality growth, creating a simpler and more productive business, and embedding a strong performance focus’.

By doing fewer things better and with greater impact, Unilever has gone some way to answering its critics, but the board is still highly conscious of the presence of several activists including Trian Partners on the shareholder register.

Last week it was reported the company planned to cut up to a third of all office jobs in Europe, meaning the loss of up to 3,200 roles, by the end of 2025.

No doubt investors will press the group for more detail both on its operating performance and its future plans when it reports next week.

UK UPDATES OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS

TRADING UPDATES

25 July: Paragon Banking, Vodafone

INTERIMS

19 July: Capricorn Energy

23 July: SThree

24 July: Breedon, Primary Health Properties, Unite Group

25 July: AstraZeneca, Centamin, Howden Joinery, Lloyds Banking Group, Rentokil Initial, Sound Energy, Unilever

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