British Airways, Rio Tinto, Shell: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Howard Mustoe

Nov. 28 (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 73.41, or 1.8 percent, to 4226.10. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 1.9 percent, and Ireland’s ISEQ Index gained 2.1 percent.

U.K. companies:

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Andrew Crawley, who is head of sales at Europe’s third-largest carrier and faces jail for alleged dishonest fixing of fuel prices, was promoted, the Financial Times reported, without saying where it got the information. British Airways advanced 1.1 pence, or 0.8 percent, to 146.6 pence

JD Sports Fashion Plc (JD/ LN): The U.K.’s third-largest sporting-goods retailer may be mulling an offer for competitor JJB Sports Plc, the Times reported, without giving the source of the information. JD Sports rose 3 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 233 pence. JJB gained 0.75 penny, or 2.8 percent, to 28 pence.

PayPoint Plc (PAY LN): The operator of the U.K.’s biggest cash and Internet payment network announces earnings. PayPoint advanced 5.75 pence, or 1.2 percent, to 477.5 pence.

Rio Tinto Group (RIO LN): The world’s third-largest mining company may have its credit rating downgraded because of its high level of debt and declining commodity prices, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said. Rio rose 83 pence, or 5.3 percent, to 1,650 pence.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA LN): Europe’s largest oil producer delayed seeking regulatory approval for its Carmon Creek oil-sands development in Canada, the second project the company has slowed as crude prices slide. Shell rose 55 pence, or 3.3 percent, to 1,733 pence.

RPC Group Plc (RPC LN): The maker of plastic containers for Nivea sun cream announces earnings. RPC advanced 9 pence, or 8.4 percent, to 116 pence.

Spirent Communications Plc (SPT LN): The company whose testing gear for phone equipment is used by Alcatel-Lucent SA announces earnings. Spirent declined 0.25 penny, or 0.5 percent, to 49 pence.

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