Anglo American, ENRC, Lloyds, Shire: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Matthew Campbell and Sarah Jones

Aug. 19 (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 40.77, or 0.9 percent, to 4,685.78. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.9 percent and Ireland’s ISEQ Index gained 0.2 percent.

Anglo American Plc (AAL LN): Credit Suisse Group AG raised its share-price estimate for the mining company by 12 percent to 3,000 pence. Anglo American increased 10.5 pence, or 0.6 percent, to 1,831.

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Australia’s Qantas Airways Ltd. posted its first half-year loss in six years of A$93 million ($77 million) and scrapped its dividend as customers reduced travel. British Airways, Europe’s third-largest airline, lost 0.7 pence, or 0.4 percent, to 173.2.

British American Tobacco Plc (BATS LN): The maker of Lucky Strike cigarettes named Richard Burrows as its chairman. Burrows was previously chairman of Bank of Ireland Plc. The shares rose 26 pence, or 1.4 percent, to 1,900.

Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. (ENRC LN): The ferrochrome, aluminum and iron ore producer in Kazakhstan said first-half net income fell 59 percent to $553 million. The shares climbed 18.5 pence, or 2.4 percent, to 777.

Hochschild Mining Plc (HOC LN): Peru’s second-largest silver miner said first-half net income declined to $24.7 million from $32.7 million a year earlier. The stock rose 3 pence, or 1.1 percent, to 265.9.

Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY LN): Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc raised its recommendation for Britain’s biggest mortgage lender to “buy” from “hold.” The shares gained 1.76 pence, or 1.9 percent, to 96.76.

Shire Plc (SHP LN): JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded the U.K. drugmaker to “neutral” from “overweight.” The shares rose 18 pence, or 1.8 percent, to 1,037.

Venture Production Plc (VPC LN): The U.K. oil and gas explorer targeted for takeover by Centrica Plc (CNA LN) said first-half net income fell 1 percent to 54.1 million pounds. The shares rose 5 pence, or 0.6 percent, to 845.

Wolseley Plc (WOS LN): Nomura Holdings Inc. downgraded the supplier of plumbing and heating equipment to “reduce” from “neutral.” The shares rose 21 pence, or 1.5 percent, to 1,409.

To contact the reporters on this story: Matthew Campbell in London mcampbell39@bloomberg.net; Sarah Jones in London at sjones35@bloomberg.net.