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EZ2

06/11/07 4:18 PM

#1385 RE: NovoMira #1384

Sector Glance: Tobacco
Monday June 11, 4:16 pm ET
Altria Slips After Supreme Court Ruling, Other Cigarette Makers Rise


NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of tobacco companies were mixed Monday after the Supreme Court ruled that Altria Group Inc.'s Philip Morris Cos. division cannot move a lawsuit by cigarette smokers from state to federal court.
The unanimous decision came in a case that consumers filed against the cigarette company in state court in Arkansas. The company wanted the case moved to federal court, where damages might be smaller. The suit accuses the company of deceptively marketing "light" cigarettes.

Altria shares fell 8 cents to $70.22 in afternoon trading.

Vector Group Ltd. slipped 1 cent to $19.99.

Loews Corp.'s Carolina Group rose $1.46, or 1.9 percent, to $78.59.

Reynolds American Inc. gained 22 cents to $62.75.

British American Tobacco PLC increased 40 cents to $65.80.