On Thursday, Unilever Plc reported a 7.3 percent gain in first-quarter underlying sales, exceeding analyst estimates. The Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream manufacturer increased prices in response to rising supply chain and energy costs.

Additionally, the business stated that it now anticipates 2.7 billion euros ($2.8 billion) in second-half cost inflation due to "the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the related increase in raw material inflation."