BA, BSkyB, Friends Provident, BAT, BP, ICI: U.K. Equity Preview

The following stocks may rise or fall in U.K. markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses and prices are from the last market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index fell 135.5, or 2 percent, to close at 6,586.1. The FTSE All-Share Index lost 64.74, or 1.9 percent, to 3,389.38.

Ireland's ISEQ Index declined 165.36, or 2.1 percent, to close at 7745.76.

U.K. Companies:

British American Tobacco Plc (BATS LN): Merrill Lynch & Co. lowered its recommendation on the world's second-biggest publicly traded cigarette maker to ``neutral'' from ``buy.'' BAT's stock lost 3 pence, or 0.2 percent, to 1,827.

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Europe's third-largest airline said first-half profit rose 52 percent as it carried more business passengers on routes to the U.S. Net income in the six months through September increased to 478 million pounds ($995 million), or 41.2 pence a share, from 315 million pounds, or 27.4 pence, a year earlier, the London-based company said in a statement today. BA's stock retreated 15.25 pence, or 3.4 percent, to 430.

BP Plc (BP/ LN): The U.K.'s third-largest Russian venture, TNK-BP, will ``soon'' begin analyzing a heavy oil field in Venezuela while seeking to expand production overseas. BP's stock lost 6.5 pence, or 1 percent, to 618.5

British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY LN): The U.K.'s biggest pay-television broadcaster said it added 83,000 new customers in the first quarter, more than the 80,000 that analysts expected. First-quarter net income dropped to 84 million pounds, from 116 million pounds a year earlier. BSkyB's stock rose 9.5 pence, or 1.4 percent, to 690.

earnwithmicrocap.com