Man Group, Old Mutual, Vedanta: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Andrew MacAskill and Sarah Thompson

Nov. 6 (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 declined 108.77, or 2.3 percent, to 4,530.73. The FTSE All-Share Index dropped 2.1 percent, and Ireland's ISEQ Index fell 0.5 percent.

U.K. companies:

3i Group (III LN): Europe's biggest publicly traded private equity firm posted its first drop in the value of its assets in five years as stock market declines erode the value of its investments. The shares fell 11 pence, or 1.8 percent, to 591.5 pence.

AstraZeneca Plc (AZN LN): AstraZeneca's cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor may generate another $3 billion in annual sales by slashing heart attacks and deaths in seemingly healthy people. The shares fell 109 pence, or 4 percent, to 2,649.

International Power Plc (IPR LN): The U.K. utility that produces electricity in 20 countries said 2008 will be another year of growth The stock declined 7.5 pence, or 2.8 percent, to 256.25 pence.

Invensys Plc (ISYS LN): The U.K. maker of controls that help run Whirlpool Corp. washing machines said first-half profit rose 35 percent on demand for rail signaling and factory automation equipment. The shares dropped 6.5 pence, or 3.7 percent, to 167.6 pence.

Man Group Plc (EMG LN): The largest publicly traded hedge- fund manager said fiscal first-half profit declined 25 percent after ``extreme moves'' in markets reduced assets under management. The shares fell 10.75 pence, or 2.7 percent, to 392.25 pence.

Old Mutual Plc (OML LN): The worst-performing European insurance stock this year said life-policy sales in the first nine months fell 3.8 percent led by declines at its U.S. unit. The stock slid 5.4 pence, or 9.2 percent, to 53.6 pence.

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS LN): The company that owns two gold mines posted a third-quarter loss as its hedging contracts matured. The shares dropped 121 pence, or 5.4 percent, to 2,118 pence.

Tate & Lyle Plc (TATE LN): The maker of the sucralose sweetener Splenda said first-half profit fell 54 percent after selling and closing businesses last year. The stock fell 1.5 pence, or 0.4 percent, to 369.75 pence.

Vedanta Resources Plc (VED LN): The largest copper producer in India said fiscal first-half profit dropped 25 percent after zinc prices declined and costs increased. The stock tumbled 91.5 pence, or 9.2 percent, to 908 pence.

To contact the reporters on this story: Andrew MacAskill in London at amacaskill@bloomberg.netSarah Thompson in London at sthompson17@bloomberg.net.