Going Down: Unilever

UNILEVER, the world's largest maker of personal care products, fell more than 11 per cent in the last five trading days, its worst week since the Russian default crisis sent global stock markets reeling more than a year ago.

Most of the loss came on Friday, when the maker of products ranging from Magnum ice cream to Sunsilk shampoo announced that third-quarter profit fell 3 per cent, to pounds 557.7m from pounds 574.4m.

The company blamed the disappointing results on sluggish demand in Eastern Europe and North America, although it said that Asian sales "forged ahead".

Overall, revenue rose 2 per cent to pounds 6.75bn.