煙草在線據《市場觀察》報道編譯

　　·奧馳亞正在努力爭取將所有卷煙品牌每包提價6美分。

　　·制造萬寶路和L&M卷煙的奧馳亞集團將對裝運產品漲價，12月3日生效。

　　·雷諾美國公司和羅瑞拉德煙草公司尚未實施與奧馳亞旗鼓相當的行動。

　　奧馳亞集團正在力推公司的全部卷煙品牌每包上漲6美分，這是該公司今年第二輪上漲卷煙產品的價格。

　　制造萬寶路和L&M卷煙品牌的奧馳亞集團證實，它將對12月3日裝運的產品實施漲價。其競爭對手雷諾美國公司和羅瑞拉德煙草公司沒有對這項舉措做出相應的行動。

　　美國最大的煙草制造商奧馳亞集團通常引領著價格決策。今年6月，它將卷煙的標價每包提高了6美分。雷諾美國公司也響應這次提價而提高了自己的卷煙價格。最近，羅瑞拉德煙草公司也一直在力推漲價。

　　乍一看，漲價可以減輕投資者和分析師在最近幾個月里對國內煙草公司產生利潤的能力的擔憂。在消費者仍然因經濟疲軟承受壓力時，贏得或保持市場份額所展開的斗爭中，美國三大煙草公司全都已經加大了價格促銷宣傳。

　　盡管三大煙草公司去年全都實施了兩輪漲價，但在同期，上漲的價格未必就已經對消費者造成損害。實際上，奧馳亞通過幫助公司贏得市場份額的價格促銷宣傳，抑制了萬寶路的價格。

　　Stifel Nicolaus公司的分析師克里斯托弗·格羅威說，考慮到最近幾個月里加大了促銷宣傳力度，奧馳亞的定價政策使其松了口氣，他預計雷諾美國公司和羅瑞拉德煙草公司將會效仿奧馳亞的做法。但格羅威先生也預計，那些競爭對手們會繼續花重金搞促銷宣傳，以保持自己的競爭力。

　　格羅威先生在一篇分析報告中說：“按時地，并與歷史及我們的模式保持一致地方式漲價，會使投資者內心感到放松。我們認為，12月份沒有定價，或低定價的威脅，至少會對美國煙草公司的價值產生幾分壓力。”

　　奧馳亞的股票在最近的交易中上漲0.8%，漲至33.66美元。今年，該公司股票已經上漲了14%，表現優于大市。

Altria to Hike Cigarette Prices by 6 Cents A Pack

　　--Altria is pushing through a six-cent per-pack price increase across all cigarette brands

　　--The maker of Marlboro and L&M cigarettes will enact the rise on shipments effective Dec. 3

　　--Reynolds American, Lorillard haven't yet matched Altria's move

　　Altria Group Inc. is pushing through a six-cent per-pack price increase across all of the company's cigarette brands, the second round of price rises the tobacco producer has taken on those products this year.

　　The maker of Marlboro and L&M cigarettes confirmed it would enact the price increase on shipments effective Dec. 3. The move hasn't yet been matched by rivals Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard Inc.

　　Altria, the largest U.S. tobacco producer, typically leads on pricing decisions. In June, it raised the list price on cigarettes by six cents per pack, an increase that was matched by Reynolds American. Lorillard has been pushing through generally higher prices of late.

　　At first glance, the price increases could ease concerns investors and analysts have raised in recent months about the strength of profits generated by domestic tobacco companies. All three firms have heightened price promotions in a battle to win or defend market share as consumers remain under pressure due to a weak economy.

　　Though all three players enacted two rounds of list price increases last year, over that same period, the higher prices haven't necessarily hurt consumers. Altria has actually kept a lid on the per-pack price for Marlboro with pricing promotions that have helped the company gain market share.

　　Stifel Nicolaus analyst Christopher Growe said he was relieved by Altria's pricing decision given the heightened promotions in recent months, and expects Reynolds American and Lorillard will follow suit. But Mr. Growe also expects those rivals will keep spending on promotions to remain competitive.

　　"Raising prices on time and in line with history and our model should put investors' minds at ease," Mr. Growe wrote in an analyst note. "We believe the threat of no or low pricing in December at least somewhat weighed on the valuations of U.S. tobacco companies."

　　Altria's shares were up 0.8% to $33.66 in recent trading. The stock has gained 14% this year, better than the broader market. Enditem