Computacenter, HBOS, Rank, Ryanair: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Kevin Crowley

Oct. 17 (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 dropped 218.20 points, or 5.4 percent, to 3,861.39. The FTSE All-Share Index fell 5.3 percent, and Ireland's ISEQ Index reduced 3.6 percent.

U.K. companies:

Computacenter Plc (CCC LN): The U.K. seller of personal computers is scheduled to issue a trading statement. The stock fell 1.75 pence, or 1.9 percent, to 89 pence.


HBOS Plc (HBOS LN): The U.K. bank being bought by Lloyds TSB Plc said it expects the acquisition to be completed in January. The stock dropped 1.6 pence, or 1.9 percent, to 84.1 pence.

Prudential Plc (PRU LN): The U.K.'s second-biggest insurer denied it was planning a rights offer, the Financial Times reported, after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said the company is more likely than peers to need additional capital. The shares fell 72.25 pence, or 19.5 percent, to 297.75 pence.

Rank Group Plc (RNK LN): The second-largest U.K. bingo-club and casino operator is set to release a trading statement before the London market opens. The stock decreased 1.25 pence, or 2.2 percent, to 56.25 pence.

Irish Companies:

Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA ID): Europe's biggest discount airline ordered 10 Boeing 737 aircraft in an order valued at about $745 million at list prices. Shares climbed 7 cents, or 3.3 percent, to 2.05 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Crowley in London kcrowley1@bloomberg.net