Investing.com - Tobacco stocks were mixed in midday trade on Friday after U.S. health officials said they were investigating more than 200 possible cases of lung disease associated with vaping.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration announced that they are looking into 215 cases after a patient in Illinois died last week in what is considered the first vaping-related death in the U.S.
The risks of vaping or smoking with e-cigarettes is relatively unknown.
British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) rose 0.2% to $35.04 a share after falling to $34.18 after the news. Altria Group (NYSE:MO) fell 0.8%, while Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) was down 0.7%.
Tobacco stocks were also down on Thursday after reports that the Federal Trade Commission is investigating the marketing practices of vape maker Juul Labs.