Sept. 3 (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 17.9, or 0.3 percent, to 5,620.70. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.5 percent, and Ireland's ISEQ Index rose 2.8 percent.

U.K. companies:

A & J Mucklow Group Plc (MKLW LN): The U.K. company which became a real-estate investment trust in July 2007 said it sees a ``challenging period'' ahead. The shares rose 11.75 pence, or 5.1 percent, to 244 pence.

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Europe's third-biggest airline is scheduled to publish August traffic and capacity statistics. The stock advanced 11.5 pence, or 4.4 percent, to 273.25 pence.

BP Plc (BP/ LN): Europe's second-largest oil company won dismissal of the last state-court lawsuit remaining from the more than 4,000 injury and property-damage claims generated by a deadly 2005 explosion at its Texas City, Texas, refinery. The stock fell 9.5 pence, or 1.8 percent, to 511.5 pence.

Cable & Wireless Plc (CW/ LN): Prudential Plc, the U.K.'s biggest insurer by market value, will take responsibility for more than 1 billion pounds ($1.8 billion) of pension assets from the U.K.'s second-biggest phone company. C&W shares added 2.5 pence, or 1.4 percent, to 179.1.

DSG International Plc (DSGI LN): The U.K.'s largest consumer electronics retailer said revenue fell 7 percent in the first 16 weeks on a like-for-like basis because of slower U.K. and southern European sales. The shares rose 3.25 pence, or 6.6 percent, to 52.75 pence.

DS Smith Plc (SMDS LN): The owner of the Spicers office products brand said first-quarter business is ``in line'' with forecasts as improving results from continental Europe offset slowing demand in the U.K. The shares rose 7 pence, or 5.5 percent, to 135.5 pence.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK LN): Europe's biggest drugmaker sued Lupin Ltd., claiming the Indian company's plan to sell a generic version of the AIDS drug Combivir infringes a U.S. patent. The shares rose 17 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 1,327 pence.

Playtech Ltd. (PTEC LN): The U.K. developer of gambling software for PartyGaming Plc and Paddy Power Plc said first-half profit rose 45 percent after selling more online casino games and signing new licensing agreements. The stock fell 9.5 pence, or 1.7 percent, to 535 pence.

Punch Taverns Plc (PUB LN): The U.K.'s largest pub owner said full-year sales fell 3.3 percent at company-managed outlets after an English ban on indoor smoking and increased household bills discouraged pub visits. The shares rose 21.75 pence, or 7.4 percent, to 316.75 pence.

Rio Tinto Group (RIO LN): The world's third-largest mining company said it signed joint-venture agreements with Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, to explore the Esteli and Paloma mine prospects in northern Chile. The stock fell 180 pence, or 3.6 percent, to 4,830 pence.

Signet Group Plc (SIG LN): The world's largest jewelry- store owner is scheduled to report earnings. The shares rose 2.5 pence, or 4 percent, to 64.75 pence.

Spirent Plc (SPT LN): UBS AG and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc are selling 75 million shares in Spirent on behalf of Sherborne Investors. Spirent, whose testing gear for phone equipment is used by Alcatel-Lucent SA, rose 0.75 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 82.75 pence.

Vodafone Group Plc (VOD LN): Vodafone was cut to ``neutral'' from ``outperform'' at Credit Suisse Group AG, which said it expects the world's largest mobile-phone company to fall short of guidance. The shares added 3.75 pence, or 2.7 percent, to 144.2.

WS Atkins Plc (ATK LN): The U.K.'s biggest engineering- design company is scheduled to hold its annual meeting and publish a trading statement. The shares fell 13.5 pence, or 1.5 percent, to 911 pence.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah Thompson in London at sthompson17@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 3, 2008 02:35 EDT