** Shares of Imperial Brands IMB.L up 2.4% to 3,229p - among the top gainers on FTSE 100 index ftse .FTSE
** Co posts a 4.6% rise in annual adj operating profit to 3.99 billion pounds ($5.25 billion), narrowly beating consensus estimates of 3.98 billion pounds, supported by higher prices of its tobacco products and growing demand for smoking alternatives
** The maker of Davidoff cigarettes and blu e-cigarettes sees FY26 adj operating profit to grow in the 3% to 5% range, on a constant currency basis
** "Some strength in the price at the open, against the backdrop of a weak wider market, is also a sign of investor appreciation and the group’s defensive qualities," said Richard Hunter, Head of Markets at interactive investor
** IMB rose ~27% YTD
($1 = 0.7603 pounds)
(Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru)
((Yamini.Kalia@thomsonreuters.com))
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