London, Feb 1, 2026, 08:00 GMT — Market closed
- On Friday, British American Tobacco shares ended the day 1.13% higher, closing at 4,376p.
- A recent U.S. lawsuit accuses a sanctions-evasion plot tied to North Korea; BAT declined to comment on ongoing claims.
- Next up: Bank of England’s decision on Feb. 5, followed by BAT’s preliminary results on Feb. 12.
Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS.L) are set to draw attention when London trading kicks off Monday, following a U.S. lawsuit alleging the company’s actions aided North Korea in funding terrorist attacks.
On Friday, the stock ended up 1.1%, closing at 4,376 pence, bouncing back slightly after slipping for two days in a row.
The legal headline lands just under two weeks ahead of BAT’s annual results on Feb. 12, a date when investors usually zero in on guidance, cash flow, and shareholder returns.
The complaint, lodged in a federal court in Virginia, targets damages under a U.S. law that allows terrorism victims to sue those accused of aiding such acts, the Guardian reported. Plaintiffs’ lawyer Ryan Sparacino said, “This case alleges a clear nexus between BAT’s clandestine scheme in North Korea and the weapons used in deadly terrorist attacks.” BAT declined to comment, stating: “We do not comment on potential or pending legal claims.” The Guardian
BAT closed Friday at 4,376p, gaining 49p after fluctuating between 4,305p and 4,391p, per Investing.com data. Trading volume hit roughly 5.55 million shares.
The FTSE 100 rose 0.5% on Friday, aided by a dip in sterling—a boost for multinationals earning abroad. “The weaker pound is obviously beneficial for the multinationals,” said Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index. Reuters
Rates remain in focus as the Bank of England prepares to reveal its next interest-rate decision on Thursday, Feb. 5.
BAT’s results will serve as a crucial test of its expansion into vapes, heated tobacco, and oral nicotine, aiming to counteract falling cigarette sales. Investors will watch closely for any hints that legal expenses, regulatory changes, or rising competition might erode cash returns.
One risk for investors is that litigation drags on, making damages and timing tough to predict. A jump in bond yields or a stronger pound might also dull the stock’s lure as an income play.
