Carpetright, Chaucer, HMV, Petrofac: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Howard Mustoe and Adam Haigh

June 30 (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 advanced 53.02, or 1.25 percent, to 4,294.03. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 1.2 percent, and Ireland’s ISEQ Index gained 1.2 percent.

Carpetright Plc (CPR LN): The U.K.’s largest carpet retailer said annual profit declined as Britons pared spending on their homes. Carpetright rose 6 pence, or 1 percent, to 598 pence.

Chaucer Holdings Plc (CHU LN): Pamplona Capital Management LLP will not make an offer for the Lloyds of London insurer and will not seek to acquire more than 29.9 percent of the company, it said in an e-mailed statement. Chaucer confirmed that talks with third parties over a potential offer for the company have been terminated, it also said. Chaucer rose 0.75 pence, or 1.7 percent, to 43.75 pence.

HMV Group Plc (HMV LN): The U.K.’s largest CD retailer said full-year profit before tax and exceptional items increased 11.5 percent to 63 million pounds. HMV rose 4 pence, or 3.5 percent, to 118.75 pence.

HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA LN): Europe’s largest bank’s Indian unit reported an 8 percent rise in full-year net profit for 2009, to 12.9 billion rupees ($270 million), the Economic Times of India reported. HSBC rose 1.25 pence, or 0.25 percent, to 511.25 pence.

Petrofac Plc (PFC LN): The U.K. oil-services provider with projects in the Middle East, Africa and North Sea said it’s had a “good start” to the year. Petrofac rose 3.5 pence, or 0.5 percent, to 658.5 pence.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS LN): Environmental groups are suing the U.K. Treasury department in order to ensure that taxpayers’ money invested in the government-owned bank supports only projects that satisfy “minimum” green and human- rights standards, the Financial Times reported, citing Leigh Day & Co., a law firm representing the groups. RBS shares rose 0.88 pence, or 2.3 percent, to 39 pence.

To contact the reporters on this story: Howard Mustoe in London at hmustoe@bloomberg.net; Adam Haigh in London at ahaigh1@bloomberg.net