BA, BAE, BP, Centrica, Smurfit: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Andrew Shepherd

Aug. 11 (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 advanced 11.7, or 0.2 percent, to 5,489.20. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.3 percent and Ireland's ISEQ Index gained 3.2 percent.

U.K. companies:

BAE Systems Plc (BA/ LN): Europe's biggest defense company is in talks to sell as many as 70 combat aircraft to Saudi Arabia in a deal valued at 20 billion pounds ($38.4 billion), the Sunday Times reported, citing unidentified people in the defense industry. The shares rose 13 pence, or 2.8 percent, to 475 pence.

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Europe's third-largest airline is preparing to surrender right to hundreds of transatlantic flights to help win the backing of U.S. authorities for an alliance with American Airlines Inc., the London-based Mail on Sunday reported. Shares rose 20.8 pence, or 8.1 percent, to 275.75 pence.

BP Plc (BP/ LN): Europe's second-largest oil company by market value, said its operations and production continue as they were on Aug. 8, amid fighting between Russian and Georgian troops in the region of South Ossetia. Shares fell 12.5 pence, or 2.4 percent, to 519.5 pence.

Centrica Plc (CNA LN): The U.K.'S biggest electricity and gas supplier may offer as much as 4 billion pounds ($8 billion) in cash for some, or all, of the U.K. government's stake in British Energy Group Plc (BGY LN) to get backing for a merger of the companies, the Sunday Telegraph reported. The shares rose 4.75 pence, or 1.6 percent, to 310.75 pence.

Collins Stewart Plc (CLST LN): Britain's largest stockbroker, has held early talks with Delek Capital, a unit of Israeli holding company Delek Group Ltd., the Financial Times reported on Aug. 9, citing an identified employee of the stockbroker. The shares rose 3 pence, or 2.9 percent, to 105.5 pence.

Delta Plc (DLTA LN): The U.K. engineering company that makes mobile-phone masts and supplies materials to make disposable batteries is scheduled to report earnings. The shares advanced 1.5 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 113.5 pence.

DSG International Plc (DSGI LN): The U.K.'s biggest consumer-electronics retailer hired Citigroup Inc. to review its Italian and Spanish operations, with a view to selling the electrical goods retailers, the Sunday Telegraph said, without saying where it got the information. Shares advanced 5.5 pence, or 11.1 percent, to 55 pence.

Lonmin Plc (LMI LN): Xstrata Plc is in talks with banks to raise more than 5 billion pounds to make a firm offer for Lonmin, the Sunday Telegraph reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. Shares declined 18 pence, or 0.5 percent, to 3,422 pence.

Mapeley Ltd. (MAY LN): The real estate investment company controlled by Fortress Investment Group LLC is scheduled to release earnings. Mapeley rose 43 pence, or 4.4 percent, to 1,018 pence.

Marston's Plc (MARS LN): The U.K. brewer and owner of Pitcher and Piano bars, has emerged as the favorite to buy Cains Beer Co., which collapsed into administration on Aug. 7, the London-based Daily Telegraph reported, citing unidentified analysts. The shares rose 1.5 pence, or 0.7 percent, to 211.25 pence.

Royal Bank of Scotland Plc (RBS LN): RBS is selling up to $8 billion worth of leveraged-buyout financing to private-equity groups Apollo Management LP, GSO Capital Partners LP and TPG Inc., the Financial Times reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the deal. The shares rose 7.5 pence, or 3.2 percent, to 240.5 pence.

Workspace Group Plc (WKP LN): The landlord to about 4,500 small and medium-sizes businesses in and around London is scheduled to report earnings results. Shares rose 1.75 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 135.25 pence.

Irish Companies:

Smurfit Kappa Group Plc (SKG ID): The world's largest maker of cardboard boxes is scheduled to release earnings. The shares rose 0.2 euro cents, or 5.1 percent, to 4.51 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew Shepherd in London at ashepherd5@bloomberg.net