Sars alarm rocks Cookson shares

FEARS that the impact of the Sars virus on sales of Cookson's products for the electronics industry in Asia hit its shares today as they slipped 2 1/4p to 19 1/2p. Sales fell by 3% in the first three months of 2003. The group also warned that despite total sales in the first quarter of 2003 being 3% higher, there were fears about the 'knock-on impact' on its markets of the situations in Iraq and Asia.