Barclays, Hammerson, Lonmin, RSA: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Howard Mustoe and Sarah Jones

Aug. 7 (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 climbed 31.6, or 0.6 percent, to 5,486.10. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.6 percent and Ireland's ISEQ Index increased 1.9 percent.

U.K. companies:

Aquarius Platinum Ltd. (AQP LN): The producer of the metal in South Africa and Zimbabwe said fiscal full-year profit gained 26 percent to 236.5 million as prices gained. The shares rallied 66.5 pence, or 17 percent, to 451.5.

Barclays Plc (BARC LN): The U.K.'s third-biggest bank said first-half profit fell 34 percent to 1.72 billion pounds ($3.4 billion) as securities trading declined and credit writedowns increased. Earnings beat the 1.5 billion-pound average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

The Barclays Capital investment bank run by President Robert Diamond had pretax profit of 524 million pounds, down from 1.7 billion pounds in the year-ago first half. The shares declined 0.25 pence, or 0.1 percent, to 369.

Benfield Group Plc (BFD LN): The U.K. reinsurance broker forecast full-year profit will be ``marginally below'' last year's as rates for reinsurance fall and competition increases. The shares advanced 1.5 pence, or 0.6 percent, to 248.25.

BP Plc (BP/ LN): The company's Russian venture TNK-BP may move its headquarters from central Moscow to beyond the city's ring road, Interfax reported, citing an unidentified developer. The shares advanced 9 pence, or 1.8 percent, to 521.

Cobham Plc (COB LN): The world's largest maker of air-to-air refueling equipment said profit rose 24 percent to 62.4 million pounds in the first half as sales of military hardware grew. Sales increased 28 percent. The shares advanced 2.75 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 217.25.

Dana Petroleum Plc (DNX LN): Goldman Sachs Group Inc. upgraded the Scottish explorer to ``buy'' from ``neutral'', saying the company ``could be a potentially attractive acquisition target for the right buyer.'' The stock climbed 50 pence, or 4.1 percent, to 1,277.

Friends Provident Plc (FP/ LN): The 176-year-old British insurer posted a first-half loss of 60 million pounds as the slowdown in the British housing market crimped sales of mortgage insurance.

Underlying operating profit under European embedded value rules totaled 211 million pounds, missing the 213 million-pound average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The shares rose 0.2 pence, or 0.2 percent, to 91.7.

Hammerson Plc (HMSO LN): The British developer that owns Birmingham's Bullring and London's Brent Cross shopping centers posted a loss in the first half of 421 million pounds as the value of its offices and malls declined. The shares fell 28 pence, or 2.8 percent, to 989.

International Power Plc (IPR LN): The U.K. utility with power stations in 20 countries reported a first-half loss of 2 million and said second-half earnings will be dented by an unplanned production halt at a British power plant. The shares advanced 7.25 pence, or 1.8 percent, to 421.

Ladbrokes Plc (LAD LN): The world's largest publicly traded gaming company said first-half profit fell 30 percent to 94 million pounds after costs rose and customers who gamble by telephone made fewer wagers. The shares retreated 16 pence, or 6 percent, to 250.25.

Lonmin Plc (LMI LN): The platinum producer rejected Xstrata Plc's (XTA LN) 5 billion-pound ($9.8 billion) hostile bid as ``wholly inadequate.''

Merrill Lynch & Co. today said Xstrata is able to raise its hostile offer to as much as 6,000 pence a share and still post higher earnings in the first year after the transaction.

Lonmin surged 1,107 pence, or 48 percent, to 3,426, while Xstrata fell 33 pence, or 1 percent, to 3,167.

Marks & Spencer Plc (MKS LN): Carl Leaver, the former chief executive officer of De Vere Group Plc who joined Marks & Spencer last year, is a top candidate for the company's CEO position, the Times reported, without saying where it got the information. The shares advanced 4 pence, or 1.4 percent, to 284.

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Plc (MLC LN): The company that runs more than 110 properties worldwide said it continues to trade in line with forecasts even as the global economy falters. The shares added 4.75 pence, or 1.4 percent, to 354.

Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group Plc (RSA LN): The U.K.'s second-largest insurer said first-half profit rose 23 percent to 292 million pounds on lower weather-related losses and increasing overseas revenue. The shares climbed 2 pence, or 1.5 percent, to 139.2.

To contact the reporter on this story: Howard Mustoe in London at hmustoe@bloomberg.net; Sarah Jones in London at sjones35@bloomberg.net.