the public ban has zero effect on smoker numbers. if public bans worked there would be no drug addicts at all.

looks to me like its ready to climb after its latest correct.

BAT grows sales http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=4691662

All cigarettes going to be in plain packaging with just the nasty health warnings and sickly pictures on government announced on the news tonight .

StockMarketWire.com
British American Tobacco reports a strong performance in 2014 in a tough environment with group revenue up by 2.8% at £15,682m at constant rates of exchange.

Reported revenue was 8.4% lower at £13,971m, as a result of adverse exchange rate movements.

Adjusted group profit from operations increased by 4.4% at constant rates of exchange to £6,075m and decreased by 7.2% at current rates of exchange to £5,403m.

Profit from operations, at current rates of exchange, was 17.7% lower at £4,546 million, impacted by a non-tobacco litigation charge and adverse exchange movements on a translational and transactional level.

Chairman Richard Burrows said:
"The Group continued to perform extremely well despite challenging trading conditions. We grew revenue and profit at constant rates of exchange and we increased our market share.

"Although significant exchange rate movements in many of our key currencies impacted our reported results, the underlying performance of our business remains strong. The increase in our total dividend for 2014 to 148.1p reflects our commitment to growing shareholder returns as well as our confidence in the strength of our business, our strategy and our future."

confess i don't hold any tobacco stocks, though for no moral reason
they're certainly good defensively and (i think) with decent yields too

whether one should by BATS or IMT or even both is probably personal choice

in the last year, IMT has easily out-performed BATS, but with BATS just touching 200 dma (southbound) that might be a reason to buy

I trade it fairly frequently. It's quite volatile as the chart shows but can take a quid or two out of it so long as you avoid chasing after a spike..

Interim Management statement http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=5324704

i would change the chart above, but MAM can't cope with changed epics so as IMT is now IMB, the chart only goes back a couple of months so difficult to compare

imo, they're both excellent stocks to hold as they perform well and are backed by good divis

StockMarketWire.com
British American Tobacco has outlined plans to merge with its US partner Reynolds in a deal valued at $47bn.

British American Tobacco, which owns 42.2% of Reynolds American Inc, has made a proposal to merge with Reynolds through the acquisition of the remaining 57.8% in the company.

US securities laws require BAT to announce its merger proposal promptly after it was made to the Board of Reynolds.

As a result, BAT has been unable to have prior negotiations with Reynolds regarding the proposal. BAT's proposal values Reynolds at $56.50 per share, of which $24.13 would be in cash and $32.37 would be in BAT shares. This represents a premium of 20% over the closing price of Reynolds common stock on 20 October. BATS says this would create a stronger, truly global tobacco and Next Generation Products company with:

- A leading position in the US tobacco market, the largest global profit pool (ex-China) with strong growth dynamics.

- A significant presence in high growth emerging markets across South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, together with the most attractive developed markets.

- A unique portfolio of strong brands, bringing together ownership of Newport, Kent and Pall Mall.

- Combined Next Generation Products and R&D capabilities to deliver a world class pipeline of vapour and tobacco heating products across all the fastest growing NGP markets globally.

- Creating the world's largest listed tobacco company by net turnover and operating profit.

all aboard if you are not already invested here
ST reports that the company is close to securing a tax rebate of £1.2bn!
that can scarcely be other than a bonus for the shareholders and sp

with no posts from anyone else, i guess you all missed the boat this morning

We are all taking the moral high ground Mr C! ;o)

Good call cynic .

In for the divi at over 2%.

Double post deleted.

A nice rise this afternoon allows me to get out with a small profit and that divi.

Trading statement http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=5567097

Half year report http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=5602835

BATS + IMB been whacked hard as FDA seeks to cut nicotine levels in cigs to non-addictive levels

Britain's Serious Fraud Office has opened a formal investigation into possible historic misconduct by British American Tobacco in Africa. The FTSE 100 company has been investigating allegations through its law firm and after informing the SFO it reported on Tuesday that the specialist prosecuting authority has now opened a formal investigation!

British American Tobacco
the world's biggest international tobacco company, sees revenue from its "next generation products" doubling to more than 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) next year.

And these products, which include e-cigarettes and devices that heat tobacco without burning it, should exceed revenue of 5 billion pounds by 2022, BAT said on Wednesday.

Although still tiny compared with its traditional cigarette brands like Lucky Strike and Dunhill, the business should break even by the end of 2018 and deliver "substantial profit" by 2022, BAT said ahead of briefings for analysts and investors.

BAT said it is confident about another year of "good" earnings growth at constant currency for the overall company, and at current exchange rates it sees a lift of 6.5 percent on operating profit and 5.5 percent on earnings per share, helped by the weak British pound.

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sp +108 this morning (2.2%) at 4931