BUZZ-Laird: Up on robust H1

** Electronic components maker Laird (Other OTC: LARRF - news) up 8.7 pct after co reports a strong H1 and says FY expectations unchanged

** H1 statutory PBT jumps 35 pct, revenue in sterling up 21 pct, driven by growth in both divisions

** Laird, whose customers include Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - news) and Samsung , says H2 weighting lower than prior years

** "The lower H2 weighting should reduce risk. Given most smartphone suppliers are cutting estimates (Dialog, Qorvo (NasdaqGS: QRVO - news) , Samsung etc), Laird's guidance for H2 should reassure," Liberum analysts say

** Stock top performer on the FTSE All Share Technology Hardware & Equipment Index and one of the biggest gainers on the FTSE 250 Index

** Stock has fallen about 8 pct since July 21, when analysts believed it was pulled down by Apple's weak outlook

** CEO David Lockwood, however, told Reuters on Thursday that smartphones bring in only 20 pct of Laird's revenue, and not just from one customer

** "Them (Apple) doing well is important for us, but we are not an Apple dependant company," Lockwood added (Reuters Messaging: noor.hussain.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)