Balfour, Informa, Taylor Wimpey: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Sabine Pirone

July 2 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and prices are from the last market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index fell 146.00, or 2.6 percent, to 5,479.90. The FTSE All-Share Index fell 2.6 percent and Ireland's ISEQ Index also fell 2.6 percent.

U.K. Companies:

AstraZeneca Plc (AZN LN): The U.K.'s second-largest drugmaker won a court ruling that upheld the enforceability of a patent on its second-biggest drug, the Seroquel antipsychotic medicine. AstraZeneca fell 12 pence, or 0.6 percent, to 2130 pence.

Balfour Beatty Plc (BBY LN): Britain's biggest builder is issuing a trading statement. Balfour Beatty fell 13.75 pence, or 3.2 percent, to 411.25 pence.

BP Plc (BP/ LN): BP's production at the Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska, the largest in the U.S., fell in June because of planned repairs and after the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System was shut at the end of the month for maintenance. BP fell 13.75 pence, or 2.4 percent, to 569.5 pence.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK LN): Europe's largest drugmaker and Novartis AG inflated drug prices paid by Alabama's Medicaid program and must pay the state $114.3 million in damages, a jury found after a two-week civil fraud trial. GlaxoSmithKline fell 10 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 1,103 pence.

Informa Plc (INF LN): Informa, the U.K. publisher of the Lloyd's List maritime newspaper, received a 2.15 billion-pound ($4.29 billion) takeover offer from Providence Equity Partners Ltd., Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman LLC. Informa fell 34.75 pence, or 8.4 percent, to 378.25 pence.

John Wood Group Plc (WG/ LN): The U.K.'s largest oilfield- services company is issuing a trading statement. John Wood Group fell 18.75 pence, or 3.8 percent, to 475.75 pence.

Taylor Nelson Sofres Plc (TNS LN): WPP Plc said the delay of a vote by GfK AG shareholders on the planned combination with Taylor Nelson Sofres puts Taylor Nelson owners at a disadvantage as they will have to vote on the deal without knowing whether the merger can proceed. Taylor Nelson Sofres fell 12.75 pence, or 5.5 percent, to 219.5 pence.

Taylor Wimpey Plc (TW/ LN): The U.K. homebuilder is set to announce today that its finance director Peter Johnson will leave, the Financial Times reported. The company is issuing a trading statement. Taylor Wimpey fell 2 pence, or 3.2 percent, to 60 pence.

Irish Companies:

CRH Plc (CHR ID): The world's second-biggest maker and distributor of building materials is issuing a trading statement. CRH fell 1.39 cents, or 7.4 percent, to 17.31 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sabine Pirone in London at spirone@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: July 1, 2008 21:15 EDT