Tobacco firm to challenge anti-smoking law

British American Tobacco SA has launched a court challenge to anti-smoking legislation, the National Council Against Smoking said on Wednesday.

BAT eyes Asia boost from $494m Indonesia deal

British American Tobacco (BAT) bought a majority stake in a top Indonesian cigarette firm on Wednesday.

Stiff sentences in cigarette hijack case

Two masterminds of a series of hijackings of cigarette vehicles belonging to British American Tobacco were on Tuesday slapped with lengthy jail terms.

Welcome to tobacco country

We might think we're big in mining, synthetic fuels, cellphones or banking, but our biggest listed company on the JSE soon will be in tobacco.

Unbundling of BAT hailed as 'fantastic deal'

The unbundling of British American Tobacco to shareholders -- and its secondary listing on the JSE -- has been heralded as "a fantastic deal".

The big firms that prop up Zim

Last month British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged British companies to stop investing in Zimbabwe, saying his government was preparing sanctions.

JSE: Sasol gains as volatility rules roost

South African stocks were mixed in early afternoon trade on Wednesday due to volatility, but the feature of the morning session was a strong gain by synthetic fuel producer Sasol. At 12.25pm, the JSE's broader all-share index was up 0,09%, with the industrial index up 0,88%, but resources were down 0,38%.

Nigeria takes on big tobacco

The Nigerian government has launched a $43-billion lawsuit against three multinational cigarette manufacturers it accuses of trying to hook young Africans on tobacco, to replenish a market that is dwindling in the West. The first legal case of its kind against big tobacco in the developing world opened at Abuja's High Court on Monday.

JSE lower on volatility among miners

Volatility in resource stocks, as well as in the mining indices, buried the JSE in the red at midday on Tuesday. At noon, the all-share index gave up 0,69%, led by a 1,69% pull back in the gold-mining index. Resources dipped 1,59% and the platinum-mining index was off 0,42%. Financials eased 0,27% and banks were unchanged (+0,01%), but industrials inched up 0,15%.

JSE weaker in line with European markets

The JSE was weaker at midday on Monday, erasing earlier gains following a similar trend in European markets on early indications that Wall Street was likely to open lower. At noon, the all-share index was down 0,69%. Resources fell 1,75% while the gold- and platinum-mining indices gave up 0,46% and 1,81% respectively.

The palace of largesse

If it achieves nothing else, the visit by the South Korean President, Roh Moo-hyun, will at least make its mark on one of North Korea's most spectacular and unusual tourist attractions. The International Friendship Exhibition Hall is a monument to the price that dignitaries pay when courting one of the world's most reclusive nations.

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