Canadian, U.S., U.K. life, health insurers investing heavily in tobacco companies

cool...

http://www.theprovince.com/Health/Canadian+life+health+insurers+investing+heavily+tobacco+companies/1664704/story.html

Wesley Boyd, the study's lead author, found that at least $4.4 billion US in insurance company funds are invested in companies whose affiliates produce cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco.

This is called spin. It happens when you invest in Nabisco.

mikecc wrote:

This is called spin. It happens when you invest in Nabisco.

spin you say? how so?

The affiliates also produce other things...like Wheat Thins. Mayhap it be that said investments are in funds that hold the mentioned companies?

7. To provide an interpretation of (a statement or event, for example), especially in a way meant to sway public opinion: "a messenger who spins bogus research into a vile theology of hatred" William A. Henry III.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/spin

hmmn. how exactly is pointing out that the same health insurers that lobby congress with millions to insure that smokers are charged extra for the same health care as others all the while owning shares in the companies they label merchants of death, considered "spin"? granted i opted for liberal definition... pretty all inclusive...

" at least $4.4 billion US in insurance company funds are invested in companies whose affiliates produce cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco"

is not

"the act or practice of attempting to manipulate the way an event is interpreted by others"?

They also could have said that "at least $4.4 billion US in insurance company funds are invested in companies whose affiliates produce Oreos, Ritz Bits, and Wheat thins."

Like I said.....Spin on the story....same money, same investments, different spin.

What percentage of Nabisco holdings is tobacco related and what percentage is other?

It is possible that the investments had spawned unto themselves shareholder held spin off companies that they had not actually paid money for.

here's you some "spin", and the newspaper doesn't even notice...

http://www.vault.com/companies/company_main.jsp?product_id=1034&ch_id=301&co_page=2&v=1