Anglo American, Rentokil, Rio, RBS: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Ben Livesey and Sarah Jones

Feb. 20 (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 11.54 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,018.37. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.2 percent to 2,019.72 and Ireland’s ISEQ Index lost 0.2 percent to 2,170.08.

Anglo American Plc (AAL LN): The commodity producer today said full-year underlying earnings dropped to $4.36 a share from $4.70 in 2007. The company also suspended dividend payments and said it would cut 19,000 jobs at its operations around the world. The shares rose 8 pence, or 0.7 percent, to 1,236.

BAE Systems Plc (BA/ LN): Europe’s biggest defense company said it is in discussions with Saudia Arabia to provide maintenance support and training for Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and expects to reach an agreement this year. The shares rose 13.75 pence, or 3.6 percent to 400.

London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LSE LN): Europe’s oldest independent bourse is part of a group including ICAP Plc that is weighing a cash offer for LCH.Clearnet Group Ltd., the Financial Times reported, citing the company. The shares fell 10.25 pence, or 2.2 percent, to 454.75.

Prudential Plc (PRU LN): The U.K.’s second-biggest insurer said life and pension sales dropped 34 percent in the fourth quarter to 3.7 billion pounds ($5.3 billion). The company also said it has a capital surplus of 1.7 billion pounds. The shares fell 4.5 pence, or 1.7 percent, to 256.5.

Rentokil Initial Plc (RTO LN): The world’s biggest pest- control company said full-year profit fell as the company revamped parcel delivery and washroom units and a weakening global economy hurt international sales. The shares fell 0.5 pence, or 1.1 percent, to 45 pence.

Rio Tinto Plc (RIO LN): The world’s third-largest mining company’s independent directors may be seeking the views of its 20 biggest U.K. investors on the possibility of a multibillion- pound rights offer as a response to strong opposition to the plan to raise $19.5 billion from Aluminum Corp. of China, the London- based Times reported.

Separately, the Financial Times reported Rio Tinto’s Australian investors are angry with the company’s refinancing deal, citing investors who met finance director Guy Elliot after the deal was announced. The shares rose 116 pence, or 6.2 percent, to 2,000.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS LN): The U.K.’s biggest government-controlled bank is seeking to sell part of its U.S. business as well as all or part of the ABN Amro Holding NV Asia businesses it bought in 2007, the Independent reported without attribution. The shares rose 3.7 pence, or 20 percent, to 21.8.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ben Livesey in London at blivesey@bloomberg.netSarah Jones in London at sjones35@bloomberg.net.