Financial services firm WH Ireland (LON:WHI) saw shares tumble over 8 percent on Thursday morning, reporting a financial loss and the departure of its CEO. The group recorded an operating loss of £1.6 million in its annual results for the 16 months to the end of March, after significant changes to the business and the reporting period took its toll. CEO Richard Killingbeck also announced that he would be stepping down at the end of July to pursue other opportunities. He will be replaced by Phillip Wale, the current Head of Fixed Income (Europe) at Cantor Fitzgerald Europe. “We have made considerable progress continuing the transformation of WH Ireland. However, as we previously stated, this process of change has not been without its challenges given market conditions and the scale of change that we have been implementing; this has resulted in losses being incurred last year – but a much clearer path to profitability is now ahead of us in the new financial year and beyond,” said Tim Steel, Chairman of WH Ireland. Shares in WH Ireland are currently trading down 8.20 percent at 117.50

Food packing firm Hilton Food Group (LON:HFG) reported trading in line with expectations for the first half of the year, as it looks to expand both domestically and overseas. In a trading update for the 28 weeks to the 15 July the company reported growing UK turnover, with “encouraging” growth in its Irish business. Its business in Holland reported lower turnover than in 2017, but the group added that in Portugal “good progress” was being made. The company also said first-half double-digit growth was achieved in Australia. “The group’s financial position remains strong and Hilton continues to explore opportunities to invest and grow the business in both domestic and overseas markets,” Hilton Food Group said. Shares in the company are currently trading up 1.23 percent on the news at 984.00 (1034GMT).

Consumer goods giant Unilever saw sales fall slightly in the first half of the year, but said it expects its full year results to remain unaffected. Sales dipped in the first half, with pre-tax profits falling €3.2 billion, down from €3.3 billion for the same period in 2017. Underlying sales rose 1.9 percent however, with emerging markets sales up 4.4 percent. The group said last month figures were likely to be negatively affected by truckers strikes in Brazil, which led to €150 million of lost sales in just 11 days. Brazil is one of Unilever’s largest markets, contributing 6.5 percent to its overall revenues. In a statement released on Thursday, the group said that whilst the problems in Brazil “presented a significant headwind in the second quarter”, it expects the effect “to partially reverse in the second half of the year”. The group added that it continued to evolve its portfolio in both Europe and North America, increasing the production of organic, natural, vegan, health and wellness products in response to consumer demand. Unilever remained positive going forward, saying its full year expectations remain unchanged. “Our expectation for the full year is unchanged,” CEO Paul Polman said. “We expect underlying sales growth in the 3-5 per cent range, an improvement in underlying operating margin and strong cash flow. We remain on track for our 2020 goals.” Shares in Unilever (LON:ULVR) are currently down 0.18 percent at 4,195.00 (0930GMT).

Profits dropped at energy giant SSE (LON:SSE) over the first quarter, with the UK heatwave and higher gas prices hitting financial results. The group took an £80 million hit over the three month period, after households used around 10 percent less gas than expected due to the hot weather. A fall in customer accounts also had an effect, falling to 7.45 million by June 30, down from 7.77 million a year earlier and 7.58 million in March. The negative news “will potentially” impact on its full-year results, the group said, dependent on a range of factors. “This new financial year has so far been characterised by lower than expected output of renewable energy and persistently high gas prices, but looking ahead, we are very focused on fulfilling our obligations to energy customers and delivering on our key priorities,” said Alistair Phillips-Davies, SSE chief executive, in the trading update. The group, who is currently in the process of merging its energy and supply business with rival Npower, committed to spending around £6 billion on investment and capital expenditure plans across the five years to March 2023. Shares in SSE are currently trading down 3.41 percent at 1,337.32 (0914GMT).

Sports Direct (LON:SPD) shares took a near 10 percent hit on Thursday morning, after reporting plummeting pre-tax profits. Pre-tax profits fell to £77.5 million in the year to April, a significant fall from the £281.6 million recorded the year before. The company mainly attributed this to the fall in value of its large stake in Debenhams, who share price has been hit recently by the high street crisis. Sports Direct’s UK sales were down 2 percent, although this was largely offset by an international sales rise of 3.5 percent. Despite the disappointing performance, Sports Direct remains confident of maintaining some growth in the coming financial year. “As the property pipeline and brand relationships accelerate, we are confident in achieving between a 5 percent and 15 percent improvement in Underlying EBITDA for the coming financial period,” Michael Murray, Head of Elevation. Shares in Sports Direct are currently down 9.68 percent at 393.90 (0854GMT).

Leading tool and equipment hire provider Speedy (LON:SDY) announced the appointment of its new chairman on Thursday, adding that it was on track to meet full-year expectations. Revenue for the first quarter of the year increased by 6.6 percent re-disposals, with its hire revenue and services revenues up by 5.5 percent and 8.4 percent respectively. UK and Ireland hire revenue also saw a marginal increase, up by 1 percent on a like-for-like basis. The group said that there was a “strong pipeline of opportunities” in its international business. Net debt came in lower that the year previously at £67.0 million, with ROCE for the 12 months to 30 June at 11.8 percent. The group also announced the appointment of David Shearer as Chairman, who will be taking the role from 1 October. Outgoing Chairman Jan Astrand will remain as a Non-Executive Director of the Company and member of the Nomination Committee until 31 October 2018. Shares in Speedy are currently down 0.43 percent at 60.24 (0842GMT).