BP, Centrica, ITV, Low & Bonar: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Lenka Ponikelska

July 14 (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 fell 145.2, or 2.7 percent, to 5,261.6. The FTSE All-Share Index lost 70.54, or 2.6 percent, to 2,660.9.

Ireland's ISEQ Index declined 271.81, or 5.8 percent, to 4,414.8.

U.K. Companies:

BP Plc (BP/ LN): Europe's second-largest oil company failed to reach an agreement with its Russian partners over the management of their Moscow-based TNK-BP venture at a meeting in Cyprus, the Financial Times reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. The stock declined 1.5 pence, or 0.3 percent, to 538.75.

Centrica Plc (CNA LN): Britain's biggest energy supplier is in discussions with potential investors in its planned 3.5 billion pound ($6.7 billion) wind-farm program, the Financial Times reported, without citing anyone. The shares fell 13.5 pence, or 4.5 percent, to 285.5.

Diageo Plc (DGE LN): The company's American depositary receipts may rise more than 30 percent in a year as the maker of Johnnie Walker scotch and Guinness stout withstands concerns about declining sales, Barron's reported, citing an analyst.

Banc of America Securities analyst Bryan Spillane expects the world's largest distiller will post a 9 percent gain in operating profit this year and as much as 8 percent in 2009, the weekly newspaper said in its July 14 issue. The shares fell 28 pence, or 3.2 percent, to 857.

ITV Plc (ITV LN): The U.K.'s biggest commercial broadcaster has talked to strategic investors who want to buy British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc's 18 percent stake, the Observer reported, without saying where it got the information.

BSkyB will be told soon whether it has won an appeal against a ruling by the Competition Commission that it must reduce its stake in ITV to at least 7.5 percent, the newspaper reported. The stock declined 1.8 pence, or 4.5 pence, to 38.3.

Low & Bonar Plc (LWB LN): The U.K. flooring and fabrics maker with U.S. operations is releasing earnings. The shares fell 6 pence, or 6.5 percent, to 87.

Playtech Ltd. (PTEC LN): The company may announce a four- year license with Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures to produce games based on the Hollywood movies ``Gladiator'' and ``The Untouchables,'' the London-based Times reported, without saying where it got its information. The stock fell 12.75 pence, or 2.6 percent, to 476.25

Scottish & Southern Energy Plc (SSE LN): The company may be considering a takeover offer for Arcapita Bank BSC's electricity- supply division in Ireland, the London-based Sunday Times reported, citing unidentified people with direct knowledge of the matter. The shares fell 49 pence, or 3.4 percent, to 1,379.

St. Modwen Properties Plc (SMP LN): The U.K. company that regenerates town centers and industrial areas is due to report earnings. The stock fell 1.5 pence, or 0.5 percent, to 315.

Wolseley Plc (WOS LN): The company plans to cut hundreds of jobs after a decline in the U.K. and U.S. housing markets, the Sunday Telegraph reported, without saying where it got the information.

Wolseley is expected to say the housing turmoil has made forecasting revenue ``increasingly difficult,'' the newspaper reported. The stock fell 11 pence, or 3.6 percent, to 297.

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