Bradford & Bingley, FBD Holdings: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Kari Lundgren

July 7 (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 63.8, or 1.2 percent, to close at 5,412.8. The FTSE All-Share Index lost 32.7, or 1.2 percent, to 2,736.06.

Ireland's ISEQ Index declined 69.3, or 1.4 percent, to close at 4,863.23.

U.K. Companies:

Alliance & Leicester Plc (AL/ LN): The U.K. lender is considering cutting its dividend to save the mortgage lender about 80 million pounds ($159 million) a year, the Sunday Times reported, without saying where it got the information. Alliance retreated 36.3 pence, or 12 percent, to 255.5 pence.

BP Plc (BP/ LN): AAR, the Russian partner in the TNK-BP oil venture in which Europe's second-largest oil company holds 50 percent, said today it is being sued for 8.5 billion rubles ($362 million) by BP, in an escalation of the tensions between the parties. BP dropped 5.5 pence, or 1 percent, to 551.5 pence.

Bradford & Bingley Plc (BB/ LN): Resolution Ltd.'s Clive Cowdery turned down approaches from four of Bradford & Bingley Plc's investors to return to the mortgage lender once its rights offer is underwritten, the Independent on Sunday reported. Bradford & Bingley fell 11 pence, or 18 percent, to 50 pence.

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Europe's third-biggest carrier will likely announce a trans-Atlantic alliance with American Airlines and Spain's Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA at its annual general meeting on July 15, the Observer reported, citing no-one. British Airways lost 12 pence, or 5.7 percent, to 197 pence.

Inspired Gaming Group Plc (INGG LN): The U.K. maker of gambling machines is in talks with Danoptra Ltd. to sell its pubs unit, which has been losing revenue because of a smoking ban, the Sunday Times reported, without saying where it got the information. Inspired Gaming rose 0.25 pence, or 0.5 percent, to 49.25 pence.

Irish Companies:

FBD Holdings Plc (FBD ID): Irish builder Liam Carroll sold his stake in the only general insurer on the Irish stock exchange last week, the Sunday Times reported, without saying where it got the information. FBD lost 5 cents, or 0.3 percent, to 14.75 euros.

IAWS Group Plc (IAW ID): Irish-based investors in the baker of Delice de France bread will pay a higher withholding tax on future dividend payments when the company completes its takeover of Hiestand Holdings AG, the Sunday Business Post reported. IAWS gained 15 cents, or 1 percent, to 15.60 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kari Lundgren in London at klundgren2@bloomberg.net