InterContinental, HBOS, Vodafone: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Howard Mustoe and Adam Haigh

Nov. 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 38.96, or 0.9 percent, to 4,403.92. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.9 percent, as did Ireland's ISEQ Index.

U.K. companies:

Aveva Group Plc (AVV LN): The U.K. maker of engineering software for companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell Plc reported a gain in first half revenue to 74.8 million pounds from 56.8 million pounds a year earlier. Aveva declined 10 pence, or 1.4 percent, to 710 pence.

Electrocomponents Plc (ECM LN): The U.K. supplier of 350,000 products ranging from cables to calculators reported first half net income of 40.8 million pounds from 24 million pounds a year earlier. Electrocomponents fell 0.75 pence, or 0.5 percent, to 149 pence.

Halfords Group Plc (HFD LN): The U.K.'s largest retailer of car parts and bicycles was raised to ``buy'' from ``neutral'' at UBS AG. The stock rose 4.25 pence, or 1.7 percent to 259.25.

HBOS Plc (HBOS LN): Some of the biggest investors in HBOS have rejected an attempt by two of Scotland's most prominent bankers to maintain the independence of the U.K.'s biggest mortgage lenders, the Financial Times reported, quoting unnamed investors. HBOS advanced 3.4 pence, or 3.2 percent, to 107.7 pence.

InterContinental Hotels Group Plc (IHG LN): The owner of the Crowne Plaza lodging brand reported a drop in third-quarter profit after selling properties and said October sales slowed on a ``sharp deterioration'' in the lodging market. InterContinental fell 2.5 pence, or 0.5 percent, to 540 pence.

J Sainsbury Plc (SBRY LN): The third-biggest U.K. supermarket chain has lost dominance in three of the U.K.'s 121 postal code areas in the southeast of England to Tesco Plc, the Financial Times reported, citing research by CACI, a location planning company. Sainsbury fell 6.5 pence, or 2.3 percent, to 274 pence.

Northern Foods Plc (NFDS LN): The U.K.'s largest maker of prepared foods for supermarkets such as Tesco Plc reported a first-half loss on costs to shut an unprofitable factory that produced prepared meals for Marks & Spencer Group Plc. Northern Foods fell 1 penny, or 1.8 percent, to 54 pence.

Vodafone Group Plc (VOD LN): The world's largest mobile- phone company cut its full-year sales forecast for the second time in four months and said it will reduce costs after revenue slowed in some markets amid the economic slump. Vodafone advanced 1.6 pence, or 1.5 percent, to 108.3 pence.

VT Group Plc (VTG LN): The U.K. warship builder and government services company said first-half profit rose fourfold following the creation of its BVT shipbuilding joint venture and as the government contracted out more work. VT advanced 9 pence, or 1.6 percent, to 558.5 pence.

Yell Group Plc (YELL LN): The publisher of the U.K.'s Yellow Pages phone directory said first-half profit rose 1.7 percent because of growth in online advertising sales. Yell advanced 0.5 pence, or 0.8 percent, to 65.5 pence.

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