Barclays, Elan, JJB, Man Group: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Kevin Crowley

Jan. 14 (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 fell 27.04 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4399.15. The FTSE All-Share Index dropped 0.8 percent to 2201.86 and Ireland’s ISEQ Index declined 0.1 percent to 2,639.86.

Amec Plc (AMEC LN): The service provider to energy producers from the Arctic to Australia, is expected to issue a trading statement. Amec dropped 2 pence, or 0.4 percent, to 537.5 pence.

Balfour Beatty Plc (BBY LN): Britain’s biggest builder is expected to release a trading statement. The shares declined 7 pence, or 2 percent, to 351.5 pence.

Barclays Plc (BARC LN): The fourth-largest U.K. bank plans to cut about 2,100 employees at its investment bank, fund management and private banking units, spokesman Simon Eaton said. Barclays dropped 18.7 pence, or 10.1 percent, to 165.9 pence.

BP Plc (BP/ LN): Europe’s second-biggest oil company completed the restart of a fluid catalytic cracker last weekend at its Texas City, Texas refinery, a person familiar with the plant’s operations said. BP rose 6.5 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 515.5 pence.

Elan Corp. (ELN ID): Ireland’s biggest drugmaker aims to “remain relatively small” as it considers merging or selling the company, Chief Executive Officer Kelly Martin told analysts and investors at a conference in San Francisco yesterday. The shares rose 12.5 cents, or 2.1 percent, to 6.08 euros in Dublin.

FirstGroup Plc (FGP LN): Britain’s biggest train operator is set to release a trading statement. The stock advanced 9 pence, or 2.2 percent, to 421.25 pence.

Fresnillo Plc (FRES LN): The world’s largest silver producer is due to publish a trading statement. The shares fell 1 penny, or 0.4 percent, to 237.75 pence.

HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA LN): Europe’s largest bank by market value may have to raise as much as $30 billion in capital and halve its dividend as earnings drop, Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a note to clients yesterday. The shares rose 1.25 pence, or 0.2 percent, to 640 pence.

JJB Sports Plc (JJB LN): The second-largest U.K. sporting- goods retailer said Chief Executive Officer Chris Ronnie’s investment firm sold its 27.5 percent stake as part of a loan agreement with failed Icelandic lender Kaupthing Bank hf. JJB climbed 0.25 pence, or 1.9 percent, to 13.75 pence.

Man Group Plc (EMG LN): The biggest publicly traded hedge fund manager is scheduled to issue a quarterly statement related to funds under management. The stock dropped 4.75 pence, or 2.1 percent, to 225.25 pence.

Punch Taverns Plc (PUB LN): The U.K.’s largest pub owner is expected to publish a first-quarter trading statement. Punch Taverns fell 8 pence, or 12.2 percent, to 57.75 pence.

Redrow Plc (RDW LN): The U.K. homebuilder is expected to issue a trading statement. Redrow declined 2.25 pence, or 1.4 percent, to 163 pence.

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