	bat sees strong performance from all sectors a strong performance from all bat industries plc s bti l major sectors enabled the group s pretax profits to pass the one billion stg level for the third year running chairman patrick sheehy said in a statement the group earlier reported a pct rise in profits to billion which sheehy said was achieved without any help from exchange rate fluctuations or acquisitions good results were achieved by its argos and saks fifth avenue in retailing and by wiggins teape and appleton in paper tobacco accounted for about pct of profit with a four pct gain to mln stg and a two pct increase in world volume the results were largely in line with analysts expectations and bat shares firmed by two pence to p at gmt bat said the u s brown and williamson unit held most of its gains and increased profit pct in dollar terms financial services saw profits double to mln with both eagle star and allied dunbar achieving further growth allied dunbar reported a pct rise in life annual premiums to mln stg bat said it increased new business by pct in the last nine months after a relatively slow first quarter its permanent health insurance was now the market leader and its unit trust group was now the second largest in the u k eagle star general premiums rose pct to billion its life activities also grew pct with better underwriting results in the second half cash flow was strong and the gross debt to equity ratio dropped to pct from pct the net ratio at pct left the group strongly placed to pursue its further development profits from paper and pulp grew pct to mln stg nearly three times the level with wiggins teape s sales rising pct to pass one billion stg bat said in it had sold batus stores in the u s for mln dlrs and sold grovewood securities for mln stg reuter 
