** Electronic components maker Laird up 8.7 pctafter co reports a strong H1 and says FY expectations unchanged
** H1 statutory PBT jumps 35 pct, revenue in sterling up 21pct, driven by growth in both divisions
** Laird, whose customers include Apple and Samsung, says H2 weighting lower than prior years
** "The lower H2 weighting should reduce risk. Given mostsmartphone suppliers are cutting estimates (Dialog, Qorvo,Samsung etc), Laird's guidance for H2 should reassure," Liberumanalysts say
** Stock top performer on the FTSE All Share TechnologyHardware & Equipment Index and one of the biggestgainers on the FTSE 250 Index
** Stock has fallen about 8 pct since July 21, when analystsbelieved it was pulled down by Apple's weak outlook
** CEO David Lockwood, however, told Reuters on Thursdaythat smartphones bring in only 20 pct of Laird's revenue, andnot just from one customer
** "Them (Apple) doing well is important for us, but we arenot an Apple dependant company," Lockwood added (Reuters Messaging:noor.hussain.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)