Imperial Brands shares fell after the cigarette manufacturer warned investors it had lost market share to competitors across its five largest markets. The company, which produces Davidoff and Gauloises cigarettes, said it ceded ground to rivals while focusing efforts on targeting more profitable market segments.

The tobacco company's struggles contrasted with more positive news elsewhere in the consumer sector. Advertising group Publicis posted top-line growth despite facing headwinds from the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to the company's latest results.

Publicis attributed its growth to strong demand for artificial intelligence-powered services, which helped drive performance in the United States and other key markets. The AI-driven services demand was sufficient to offset negative impacts from the Middle East conflict on the company's operations.

Meanwhile, investment firm BTIG launched coverage of the food sector with favorable ratings for several companies. The firm issued positive recommendations for Mondelez International, J.M. Smucker, and Utz Brands as it began formal analyst coverage of food industry stocks.

The mixed corporate results reflect varying challenges facing consumer-focused companies, from competitive pressures in traditional tobacco markets to growth opportunities in AI-enhanced advertising services.