May 3 (Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may make gains or losses in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names and prices are from the April 29 close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index climbed 11.5, or 0.2 percent, to 4801.70. The FTSE All-Share Index advanced 0.2 percent to 2397.05 even as two stocks fell for every one that gained.

The FTSE 100 slid 1 percent last week, its third consecutive such drop. The benchmark lost 1.9 percent in April, the biggest monthly drop in more than a year.

The ISEQ gained 32.95 points, or 0.6 percent, to 5831.44 in Dublin.

U.K. Companies:

Barclays Plc (BARC LN): Britain's third-largest bank is approaching the point at which its plan to buy a majority stake in Absa bank Ltd., South Africa's biggest consumer bank, becomes ``unattractive,'' the Business Times said, citing Barclays executive David Roberts. The shares rose 3 pence, or 0.6 percent, to 537 pence.

Compass Group Plc (CPG LN): The world's No. 1 caterer is planning to sell assets and buy back shares in a bid to ease pressure from investors wanting to fire Chief Executive Mike Bailey, The Sunday Times reported, citing unidentified board members. The shares declined 0.5 pence, or 0.2 percent, to 233.25 pence.

Corus Group Plc (CS/ LN): U.K.'s biggest steelmaker was raised to ``add'' from ``reduce'' by analyst Luc Pez at Oddo & Cie. The stock added 1 pence, or 2.4 percent, to 43.25 pence.

Manchester United Plc (MNU LN): U.S. billionaire Malcolm Glazer will make a formal 800 million-pound ($1.5 billion) bid for Manchester United Plc as early as this week, The Sunday Telegraph reported, without saying where it got the information. The shares declined 5.3 pence, or 2 percent, to 260 pence.

Marconi Corp. (MONI LN): The U.K. telecommunications equipment manufacturer is accelerating efforts to sell itself to a U.S., European or Chinese competitor, The Sunday Times reported, citing an unidentified person at adviser Morgan Stanley. The shares declined 36.5 pence, or 12.25 percent, to 261.5 pence.

William Morrison Supermarkets Plc (MRW LN): Britain's fourth-biggest supermarket chain said it's selling its Safeway Stores Jersey Ltd. and Safeway Stores Guernsey Ltd. to CI Traders Ltd. for 51 million pounds ($97.3 million) in cash. The shares rose 1.8 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 194 pence.

Last Updated: May 2, 2005 20:59 EDT