P50b Teletext kp2 Mar 2 22:38:20       —————————————————————————————  £2.4bn PROFIT LJSELZ AT BAT Financial sjtvjcis to tobbcco giant BAT is on course for a stunning 33% leap in profits when it reports on Wednesday, according to Nat'est Securities. Tobacco is likely to have been a dramatic pjrformjr, helping taxable profits in the year to the end of December to soar to £2.4bn from £1.8bn. For shareholders, the dividend payout is pencilled in at 24p against 21.9p. ——————————————————————————————————————— Financial headlines u00 City index 501 TELETEXT HOLIDAY VIEWER OFFERS P539 Next CityJndjx Shares Family Finance