A rise in the dividend and a share buyback at Unilever failed to console shareholders as signs of weak pricing at the consumer goods group unsettled the market. Shares softened yesterday after it posted first-quarter results showing sales growth was driven by volumes and only a minor lift from higher pricing. The maker of Dove soap and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream said underlying sales increased 3.4 per cent, in line with consensus forecasts among City analysts, and it reiterated its forecast for 2018 sales growth of between 3 and 5 per cent. On a reported basis revenue fell 5.2 per cent to €12.6 billion, affected by currency swings. Investors focused on growth being driven by Unilever selling more products, with just a 0.1 per…

Source: The Times April 19, 2018 07:52 UTC