{"id":24148,"date":"2026-02-22T16:14:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T16:14:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=24148"},"modified":"2026-02-22T16:14:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T16:14:22","slug":"diageo-seeking-lift-macfarlane-rolls-royce-hsbc-daily-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=24148","title":{"rendered":"Diageo seeking lift + Macfarlane, Rolls-Royce, HSBC \u2013 Daily Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Johnnie-Walker-Princes\"Johnnie-Walker-Princes
Diageo reports half-year figures amid a sales dip (pic: Terry Murden)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Diageo\u2019s shares are finally showing a little more spirit after a terrible run for the owner of Smirnoff vodka, Captain Morgan rum, Johnnie Walker whisky and Guinness, say analysts at AJ Bell.<\/p>\n

Whether this is specific to the company, or part of a wider recovery, new chief executive Sir Dave Lewis will be pleased to see the improvement as he prepares to put his stamp on the company.<\/p>\n

However, the stock is still down nearly 16% over one year as input cost pressures, worries over changes in drinking habits across generations, tariffs, and the possible impact on demand of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have all had an impact. <\/p>\n

A cooling in the once red-hot tequila market and China\u2019s ongoing crackdown on conspicuous consumption have also contributed to weak operational performance.<\/p>\n

Diageo has responded with a cost-cutting programme, although management has refrained from major changes to the corporate structure, despite ongoing speculation about asset sales.<\/p>\n

For the first-half results, analysts expect a 3% drop in organic sales, for a headline revenue figure of $10.5 billion; a 4% drop in organic profits, producing pre-tax income of $2.7 billion; and an unchanged first-half dividend of $0.405.<\/p>\n

Macfarlane<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scottish packaging company Macfarlane posts full-year figures on Thursday and the market will want an update on the restoration of operations at its Pitreavie business after it was disrupted by a tragic accident.<\/p>\n

The Glasgow-based company is investing \u00a31.2m in equipment to back the return to normal production .<\/p>\n

Additionally, it is preparing its pension scheme for a potential buy-in, which is expected to result in a non-recurring accounting charge of \u00a32m to \u00a33m because of an increase in the cost of historic pension equalisation.<\/p>\n

The board has guided the market to expect adjusted operating profit at \u00a319.1m as set out in its trading update on 22 October.<\/p>\n

HSBC<\/strong><\/p>\n

HSBC closes the banking season with an expected 10.7% year-on-year decline in pre-tax profit of $28.86 billion while the fourth interim dividend is forecast to rise nearly 17%. Excluding the special dividend paid in 2024, the full-year payout would increase about 9%.<\/p>\n

The shares are currently up 43% over year and hit a fresh record high in early February.<\/p>\n

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said that there has been \u201cevidence of growing success for [HSBC\u2019s] strategic plan, which is significant but simple\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhereas HSBC had been moving towards becoming a business with a slavish reliance on interest rate movements and levels, the revised and increasing focus on the growth in affluent wealth, especially in Asia, is key to the new offering,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe group has been investing heavily in this move, giving HSBC higher, but more diversified income streams.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rolls-Royce<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rolls-Royce is expected to deliver another positive set of year-end figures amid a continuing surge in its shares. \u00a0They are up 15% since the start of 2026 and have soared 106% over one year.<\/p>\n

Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: \u201cThere\u2019s been little sign of turbulence at Rolls-Royce of late, with strong demand in its civil aerospace business remaining a running theme.<\/p>\n

\u201cLarge engine flying hours, a key driver of revenue for civil aerospace, grew by 8% over the first 10 months of the year, reaching 109% of pre-pandemic levels,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s also been a significant amount of large engine orders coming in.<\/p>\n

\u201cElsewhere in the business, positive momentum in the power systems division continues to be driven by impressive growth in data centres, where demand for backup power systems remains high.\u201d<\/p>\n

DIARY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Monday 23 February<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  • Full-year results from Mony Group<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Tuesday 24 February<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    • Full-year results from\u00a0Standard Chartered\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0UNITE<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • First-half results from\u00a0McBride<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Wednesday 25 February<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Full-year results from Hiscox, HSBC <\/strong>and\u00a0Aston Martin Lagonda<\/strong><\/li>\n
      • First-half results from\u00a0Diageo<\/strong><\/li>\n
      • BRC UK Shop price index<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Thursday 26 February<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Full-year results from\u00a0Macfarlane, Rolls-Royce, London Stock Exchange and Ocado<\/strong><\/li>\n
        • Trading statement from\u00a0Tate & Lyle<\/strong><\/li>\n
        • Nationwide UK house price index<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Friday 27 February<\/strong><\/p>\n

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          • Full-year results from International Consolidated Airlines, Melrose Industries <\/strong>and Pearson<\/strong><\/li>\n
          • First-half results from\u00a0Hays<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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