Jan. 24 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks extended declines, paced by Shire Pharmaceuticals Group Plc and Smiths Group Plc.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index fell 20.40, or 0.6 percent, to 4782.90 as of 9:41 a.m. in London, with about eight stocks dropping for each one that gained. The FTSE All-Share Index slipped 0.4 percent to 2407.44.

Shire, the U.K.'s third-largest drugmaker, fell 19.5 pence, or 3.1 percent, to 617.5 pence. European and Canadian health regulators raised safety concerns about the Alzheimer's drug Reminyl, which the drugmaker developed with Johnson & Johnson.

Smiths Group, which makes parts for Boeing Co. planes and anthrax-detection systems for the U.S. Postal Service, lost 16 pence, or 1.9 percent, to 838. Merrill Lynch & Co. cut the stock to ``neutral'' from ``buy''.

British Airways Plc, Europe's second-largest airline, fell 5 pence, or 2 percent, to 242.5 pence. Oil rose for a second day in New York, stoking concern that higher energy costs may erode profits. Crude oil for March delivery was recently 1.4 percent higher at $49.20 a barrel in after-hours electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Rio Tinto Group and BHP Billiton Plc advanced. The two iron- ore miners may more than double prices of the raw material to Japan to narrow the gap with Brazilian shipment prices, Macquarie Bank Ltd. said.

Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest iron ore exporter, added 24 pence, or 1.5 percent, to 1,644 pence. BHP Billiton, the third biggest, advanced 7.5 pence, or 1.2 percent, to 644.5.

The following stocks are making gains or losses today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.

Amino Technologies Plc (AMO LN), a supplier of digital set- top boxes to hotels and schools, added 3.5 pence, or 1.2 percent, to 297.5. The company reported full-year earnings for the first time. Net income was 1.33 million pounds ($2.5 million) in the 11 months ended Nov. 30, compared with a loss of 3.89 million pounds the previous year.

Beale Plc (BAE LN), a department-store operator, tumbled 7 pence, or 10 percent, to 62.5. The company said full-year net income slumped to 23,000 pounds, compared with 546,000 pounds a year earlier, because of ``cautious'' consumer spending and increased competition. The company said it sees ``another very challenging year'' ahead.

Hartford Group Plc (HAR LN), which owns bars and restaurants in London, gained 0.1 pence, or 8.5 percent, to 1.27. The company posted fiscal-year net income of 570,000 pounds, compared with a loss of 1.84 million pounds a year earlier, after sales increased at bars in London's financial district, known as the City.

Invensys Plc (ISYS LN), the engineer that has refinanced debts of 2.7 billion pounds ($5 billion), added 1.25 pence, or 7.4 percent, to 18.25, the biggest gain in two months. The company said it expects to achieve its targets for the year.

J.D. Wetherspoon Plc (JDW LN), the owner of 643 British pubs, fell 9.75 pence, or 3.8 percent, to 250.25 pence. The company said it plans to ban smoking in all its bars by May 2006, two years before a government order comes into force.

An initial 60 Wetherspoon pubs will enforce the ban starting May 4 of this year, spokesman Eddie Gershon said in an interview. ``More and more people are saying they don't like going out to smoky environments,'' Gershon said. ``As a result, fewer people are going to pubs. We want to keep one step ahead.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian McGee in London at bmcgee3@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 24, 2005 04:58 EST