BRITISH American Tobacco yesterday reported a 15.7 per cent jump in first-half revenue to £7.72 billion, as the pound’s weakness boosted the value of overseas sales in sterling terms.

Excluding currency-related gains, revenue in the six months to June was up 3.5 per cent on the same period of last year. However, cigarette sales volumes were down by 5.6 per cent at 314 billion.

Adjusted first-half profit from operations was up by 15.8 per cent at £2.8bn, boosted by sterling’s weakness.

The interim dividend has been raised to 56.5p-a-share, from 51.3p-a-share.

Shares in British American Tobacco dipped by 1p to 5322p.