Threat of a looming ban on menthol cigarettes weighs on tobacco stocks

FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb plans to announce this week the agency will move forward with a ban on menthol cigarettes, senior FDA officials told CNBC last week. British American Tobacco, Imperial Brands and Altria shares fell Monday. Tobacco stocks slid Monday as investors feared the consequences of a possible ban on menthol cigarettes, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to propose this week.