British Airways, Sky, Severn Trent: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Howard Mustoe

May 29 (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 28.69, or 0.7 percent, to 4,387.54. The FTSE All-Share Index fell 0.7 percent and Ireland’s ISEQ Index fell 2.1 percent.

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Moody’s Investors Service lowered the corporate family and probability of default ratings of British Airways to Ba2. The senior unsecured and subordinate ratings have been lowered to Ba3 and B1, respectively. British Airways fell 2.5 pence, or 1.6 percent, to 156.8 pence.

British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY LN): The U.K.’s biggest pay-television provider bid about 60 percent more than its nearest rival for seven digital channels owned by rival Virgin Media Inc., the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the auction. Sky fell 10 percent, or 2.2 percent, to 452.5 pence.

Brixton Plc (BXTN LN): The U.K.’s largest owner of warehouses is in talks to sell more than 200 million pounds ($319 million) of properties held in a joint venture to private equity company Westbrook Partners LLC, the Financial Times said, without saying where it got the information. Brixton fell 3.75 pence, or 5.2 percent, to 68.75 pence.

Electrocomponents Plc (ECM LN): The U.K. supplier of 350,000 products ranging from cables to calculators releases results. Electrocomponents fell 5 pence, or 3.2 percent, to 149.25 pence.

Serco Group Plc (SRP LN): The operator of London’s Docklands Light Railway and a service provider for the U.K. and U.S. navies, may be the most successful bidder for contracts tied to the U.K. government’s new long-term unemployment plan, the Financial Times reported. Serco rose 1.25 pence, or 0.3 percent, to 392.5 pence.

Serica Energy Plc (SQZ LN): The U.K. oil and gas explorer announces earnings. Serica declined 3.5 pence, or 5.1 percent, to 65.5 pence.

Severn Trent Plc (SVT LN): The U.K.’s second-biggest water company releases earnings. Severn Trent fell 18 pence, or 1.6 percent, to 1,140 pence.

To contact the reporters on this story: Howard Mustoe in London at hmustoe@bloomberg.net;