BP, Burberry, Speedy Hire, Xstrata: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Lenka Ponikelska

July 15 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in U.K. markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses and prices are from the last market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index added 38.8, or 0.74 percent, to 5,300.4. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 21.16, or 0.8 percent, to 2,682.02. Ireland's ISEQ Index advanced 84.31, or 1.9 percent, to 4,499.11.

U.K. Companies:

Alliance & Leicester Plc (AL/ LN): The company's shareholders sought a rival bid after the lender agreed to be bought by Banco Santander SA for 1.26 billion pounds ($2.5 billion), seven months after it gave up a deal with the Spanish bank that valued it at more than twice as much, the Financial Times reported. The stock added 115.75 pence, or 52.8 percent, to 335.

BP Plc (BP/ LN): A group of Russian shareholders said they are willing to buy BP's 50 percent stake in TNK-BP Holding, as the two sides battle for control of the Russian oil producer. The shares rose 0.25 pence, or less than 0.1 percent, to 539.

Burberry Group Plc (BRBY LN): The maker of $2,195 metal- studded Warrior handbags may report an increase in first-quarter sales tomorrow after shoppers bought more of its luxury bags and new stores opened. The shares advanced 5.75 pence, or 1.5 percent, to 397.

Premier Foods Plc (PFD LN): The second-largest U.K. bread baker is reporting results. The shares added 3 pence, or 4.1 percent, to 76.

Speedy Hire Plc (SDY LN): The U.K.'s largest tool-rental company is releasing results. The stock fell 20 pence, or 4.6 percent, to 415.75.

Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS LN): GfK AG, a German market- research company, has been in talks with Cinven Ltd., the private-equity firm behind Gala Coral Group Ltd. and Axel Springer AG, about financing a joint bid for Taylor Nelson Sofres, the Daily Telegraph said, citing an unidentified person familiar with the matter. The stock declined 6.5 pence, or 2.4 percent, to 269.25.

Trikona Capital (TRC LN): The U.K.-based fund that invests in Indian property is releasing results. The shares remained unchanged at 74.5.

Xstrata Plc (XTA LN): Teck Cominco Ltd. and Xstrata will close the joint-venture Lennard Shelf Pillara zinc mine in Western Australia earlier than planned because of a decline in zinc prices and the rising Australian dollar. The shares rose 101 pence, or 2.7 percent, to 3,880.

To contact the reporter on this story: Lenka Ponikelska in London lponikelska1@bloomberg.net