Demand for Nurofen painkillers and other health brands in emerging markets helped Reckitt Benckiser offset weaker markets elsewhere to post a rise in half-year profits today.

Sluggish economic data from the world’s biggest economy offset gains by buoyant banking stocks, sending the FTSE 100 Index into the red and continuing a turbulent performance by the top tier.

Consumer goods group Reckitt Benckiser has reported a strong start to 2013 after a heavy flu and colds season boosted demand for Strepsils and Nurofen.

HANDY TIPS

A surge in winter cold and flu bugs helped Nurofen and Strepsils maker Reckitt Benckiser report better-than-expected profits today.

Lloyds was the biggest faller on London’s leading shares index today after it suffered a £3.5bn (€4.12bn) loss and warned of further problems ahead.

JENNIFER Evans, 62, has worked in M Evans sweet shop on Wolfe Tone Square in Bantry since she was a girl.

The London market retreated today as fears over China’s decision to raise interest rates continued to weigh on the minds of investors.

The FTSE 100 Index pressed ahead today on the back of a strong show from the oil and gas sector and a weaker US dollar.

Robust third quarter updates from the likes of BP and insurance giant Aviva helped drive further gains on London’s blue chip share index today.

Cillit Bang-to-Dettol firm Reckitt Benckiser stuck by growth targets today despite pressure on its Vanish fabric care division in Europe.

Vanish-to-Cillit Bang giant Reckitt Benckiser has agreed a £2.5bn (€3bn) deal to snap up the consumer goods group behind Durex and Scholl footcare, it was announced today.

ON a brief touring holiday in Galway recently — just me and the dog — I was amazed at the amount of rubbish I accumulated. I was particularly alarmed at the volume of plastic waste I had gathered. This prompted me to keep a ‘plastic diary’ for a week.

An industry outsider was named as the new boss of private equity-owned EMI’s recorded music division today.

London’s blue chip shares retreated into the red today as stocks were hit by bad housing market news on both sides of the Atlantic.

Reckitt Benckiser said strong growth from recently-acquired brands Nurofen and Strepsils helped it deliver a 15% rise in full-year profits today.

UK household goods firm Reckitt Benckiser is expanding its healthcare operations in North America after today agreeing a £1.1bn (€1.5bn) takeover of a US cough mixture firm.

The boss of household products group Reckitt Benckiser saw his bonus fall by 26% last year after failing to hit the top end of his targets, it emerged today.

Household products group Reckitt Benckiser targeted further strong growth today after rounding off last year with record sales figures.

Household products group Reckitt Benckiser raised the bar on its annual revenues target today after growth across all its product categories.

Household product maker Reckitt Benckiser said today that a range of successful new cleaning products helped deliver a strong start to the financial year.

UK investors should get useful mid-year reports from a clutch of blue-chip companies this week as activity in the London markets rises again after a quiet month.

Harpic-to-Calgonit group Reckitt Benckiser today pledged to grow sales by up to 6% this year as it prepared to launch a range of new products.