British Airways, Debenhams, Next: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Andrew MacAskill

Jan. 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 rose 17.85, or 0.4 percent, to 4,579.64. The FTSE All-Share Index advanced 0.6 percent to 2,288.04, and Ireland’s ISEQ Index gained 3.4 percent to 2,501.88.

U.K. companies:

Antofagasta Plc (ANTO LN): The copper producer controlled by Chile’s Luksic family submitted a $21.7 million power-line project to a Chilean regulator for approval. The stock declined 13.5 pence, or 2.9 percent, to 458.

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Europe’s third-largest airline will report traffic figures for December. The shares gained 2.1 pence, or 1.2 percent, to 182.3 pence.

Carpetright Plc (CPR LN): The U.K.’s largest carpet retailer will consider buying weaker rivals in a year’s time, the Financial Times reported, citing Philip Harris, founder and chief executive officer. The shares fell 4 pence, or 1.1 percent, to 350 pence.

Debenhams Plc (DEB LN): The second-largest U.K. department- store company said a sales drop slowed on demand for exclusive fashions in the Designers at Debenhams range. The stock rose 3 pence, or 12 percent, to 28.5 pence.

Dunelm Group Plc (DNLM LN): The U.K. operator of Dunelm Mill homeware stores said total sales rose 2.3 percent in the 26 weeks ended Dec. 27, while like-for-like sales fell 5.6 percent. The shares dropped 2 pence, or 1.5 percent, to 130 pence.

Next Plc (NXT LN): The U.K.’s second-largest clothes retailer reported a decline in revenue and maintained its full- year profit forecast. The stock fell 18 pence, or 1.6 percent, to 1,091.

Irish Companies:

CRH Plc (CRH ID): The world’s second-biggest building materials maker said second-half pretax profit will drop by a “high-teen” percentage following a slump in construction in Europe and other markets. The shares rose 40 cents, or 2.2 percent, to 18.80 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew MacAskill in London at amacaskill@bloomberg.net.