Philips Electronics said it had still not seen a recovery in most of its markets and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays would be a key test of whether shoppers' confidence has returned.
Philips, Europe's biggest consumer electronics producer, posted better than expected third-quarter results on Monday as the benefits of cost-cutting took effect and revenue fell less than feared, boosting its share price to a one-year high.
But the company's outlook was cautious, echoing comments made by competitors General Electric and Siemens that an underlying recovery had not yet begun.
"The proof in the pudding will be the selling season," Chief Financial Officer Pierre-Jean Sivignon told reporters.
- Newsmax
Russian equities have soared to new highs for the year as the strengthening oil price and hopes of a global recovery established Moscow as the world's best-performing stock market this year.
The dollar-denominated RTS index closed on Monday at 1,428.06, up 4 per cent on the day and up 126 per cent since January 1.
The rouble-denominated Micex index closed at 1,357.44, up 3.7 per cent on the day and 119 per cent higher since the start of the year.
- Financial Times