Tobacco.org

Stocks To Watch Today : Doubting AmEx; Smoke Or Fire At UST; Collective Strides Rite 

There's no smoke, but somebody thinks there's a fire brewing at UST (UST). The smokeless tobacco products maker has been the subject of myriad rumors that it might be in the cross-hairs of a bigger tobacco player - Altria (MO) being the name that comes up most frequently - that would be interested in expanding beyond the traditional cigarette business. UST effectively fanned the flames Thursday. The company aburptly canceled a scheduled appearance at a Lehman Brothers conference on consumer companies. UST said the executives expected to make the presentation, including CEO Murray Kessler, had a ''scheduling conflict," and then declined to elaborate.

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