BA, BAE, British Energy, HSBC: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Howard Mustoe and Adam Haigh

Aug. 1 (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 8.80, or 0.2 percent, to 5,411.90. The FTSE All-Share Index declined 0.2 percent and Ireland's ISEQ Index decreased 1.6 percent.

U.K. Companies:

Alliance & Leicester Plc (AL/ LN): The U.K. bank posted a first-half loss because of credit writedowns and higher funding costs. Alliance & Leicester declined 0.25 pence, or 0.1 percent, to 340.5 pence.

BAE Systems Plc (BA/ LN): Europe's biggest defense company said first-half net income rose 14 percent on higher sales of armored vehicles. BAE declined 1 penny, or 0.2 percent, to 450 pence.

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Europe's third-biggest carrier said first-quarter profit fell 90 percent as the cost of fuel soared to a record. British Airways fell 7.75 pence, or 3 percent, to 255.25 pence.

British Energy Group Plc (BGY LN): Electricite de France SA, the world's largest owner of nuclear power stations, said conditions for a major development in the U.K. are not met. British Energy rose 9.5 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 729.5 pence.

HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA LN): Europe's biggest bank failed to get approval for its $6 billion takeover of Korea Exchange Bank before today's deadline, which means it can terminate the deal. HSBC fell 8 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 839 pence.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Plc (JLT LN): The U.K.'s biggest publicly traded insurance broker said first-half net income fell to 37.1 million pounds from 61.2 million pounds the previous year. The shares decreased 5.5 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 413.75 pence.

Kingfisher Plc (KGF LN): Europe's largest home- improvement retailer agreed to sell its Castorama Italy unit to Groupe Adeo SA for 560 million euros ($872 million) in cash. The shares slid 3.4 pence, or 2.8 percent, to 118.4.

Senior Plc (SNR LN): The airplane parts supplier, which gets 60,000 pounds for gear it fits into every Airbus A320, will boost sales at its aerospace unit by 7 percent to 8 percent in 2009, excluding acquisitions, Chief Executive Officer Mark Rollins said in an interview. Five analysts surveyed by Bloomberg predict sales of 317 million pounds, or an increase of 6.4 percent. The shares lost 2 pence, or 1.9 percent, to 105.

Trinity Mirror Plc (TNI LN): The publisher of the Daily Mirror newspaper was upgraded to ``overweight'' from ``equal-weight'' at Morgan Stanley, which cited ``more clarity on the schedule of pension costs and management's commitment to further cost reduction measures.''

Separately, Merrill Lynch & Co. lifted its recommendation for Trinity Mirror to ``neutral'' from ``underperform,'' saying ``much of the bad news on advertising is now known'' in a report.

The shares rallied 3.25 pence, or 3.9 percent, to 86.25.

Tullett Prebon Plc (TLPR LN): The second-biggest broker of transactions between banks said it's in talks to merge with GFI Group Inc. to expand its derivatives-broking business in the U.S. Tullett advanced 18.75 pence, or 4.2 percent, to 466 pence.

Xstrata Plc (XTA LN): The world's third-largest lead producer will have emissions from its Mt. Isa mine monitored daily by the Queensland state government, the Australian reported, citing the environment minister. Xstrata fell 1 penny, or 0.03 percent, to 3646 pence.

Irish Companies:

Elan Corp. Plc (ELN ID): Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corp. reported two confirmed cases of a deadly brain infection in patients taking the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri. Elan decreased 52 cents, or 3.7 percent, to 13.5 euros.

To contact the reporters on this story: Howard Mustoe in London at hmustoe@bloomberg.netAdam Haigh in London at ahaigh1@bloomberg.net