Rentokil shares have fallen sharply, sliding almost 20% in early trading as the company faces weakening demand in its North American operations.
The steep decline underscores growing concerns about the firm's exposure to regional economic softness, particularly in the United States and Canada, where customer spending on maintenance services appears to be contracting.
The sell-off comes at a time of heightened market volatility.
Global semiconductor equities have faced a severe downturn, with selling pressure expanding from Asian markets to Europe and the United States.
This broad-based decline reflects intensifying risk aversion among investors, who are rotating away from cyclical names amid uncertainty over future growth trajectories.
Rentokil's specific struggle in North America adds a layer of fundamental risk to the broader market sentiment.