Sharp gains

INVESTING INSIGHT

The stocks of companies engaged in the cigarette manufacturing business have cruised along in the last three months from February to May on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

This was despite the government's strict measures to curtail cigarette smoking.

Share price of ITC rose from Rs 1349.80 on February 1, to today's close of Rs 1,426.35, up 3.44 per cent on the BSE.

During the same period the stock price of VST Industries increased from Rs 237.55 to Rs 306.20, up by 28.89 per cent and Godfrey Phillips increased from Rs 616.29 to Rs 780.10.

GTC gained from Rs 34.85 to Rs 57.55, up 65.13 per cent. Share price of RDB Industries gained from Rs 9.00 to Rs 10.27. However, RTCL registered a minor decline from Rs 4.69 to Rs 3.81.