Standard Life, Inmarsat, Morrison: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Kevin Crowley

March 12 (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 dropped 21.42 points, or 0.6 percent, to 3,693.81. The FTSE All-Share Index fell 0.4 percent, and Ireland’s ISEQ Index declined 1.9 percent.

AMEC Plc (AMEC LN): The energy engineering firm with 23,000 employees worldwide is scheduled to report earnings. AMEC fell 6 pence, or 1.1 percent, to 534.5 pence.

Cineworld Group Plc (CINE LN): The second-largest U.K. movie theatre operator is expected to report earnings. Cineworld increased 4.5 pence, or 3.9 percent, to 120.5 pence.

Climate Exchange Plc (CLE LN): The owner of emissions markets in London and Chicago is expected to report earnings. The share climbed 59.5 pence, or 7.9 percent, to 809.5 pence.

Dignity Plc (DTY LN): The U.K.’s second-largest undertaker is due to issue an earnings statement. The stock gained 9.5 pence, or 1.5 percent, to 624.5 pence.

Home Retail Group Plc (HOME LN): The owner of Britain’s second-largest do-it-yourself chain is expected to report earnings. Home Retail climbed 6.7 pence, or 3.4 percent, to 204 pence.

Inmarsat Plc (ISAT LN): The U.K. satellite company that provides communications services is expected to report earnings. Inmarsat gained 6 pence, or 1.4 percent, to 430 pence.

RCG Holdings Ltd. (RCG LN): The Hong Kong-based maker of the i-Series fingerprint-recognition products said 2008 profit rose 38 percent to HK$622.3 million ($80 million) after sales grew in China. RCG fell 2.5 pence, or 3.5 percent, to 69.5 pence.

Standard Life Plc (SL/ LN): Scotland’s largest insurer is expected to report full-year earnings. Standard Life gained 3.4 pence, or 2.2 percent, to 161.3 pence.

Thomas Cook Group Plc (TCG LN): Europe’s second-biggest travel company expects the tourism market to worsen through 2010, according to the head of its German business. The share advanced 7.25 pence, or 3.3 percent, to 229.75 pence.

Vodafone Group Plc (VOD LN): The world’s biggest mobile- phone company and Telefonica SA’s O2 unit plan to pool their networks in a major shakeup of the U.K.’s mobile phone industry, the Guardian reported, without attribution. The shares fell 4.6 pence, or 3.8 percent, to 115.75 pence.

William Morrison Supermarkets Plc (MRW LN): The smallest of the four main U.K. food retailers is scheduled to report earnings. Morrison fell 5.75 pence, or 2.3 percent, to 245.75 pence.

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