BRITISH Airways and directories business Yell are preparing for promotion to London's blue-chip FTSE 100 Index, with the latest quarterly reshuffle due to be announced later this week.
Both have seen their share prices rise in recent months, putting them in pole position to move into the upper echelon of UK listed companies.
Since July, when Yell became the UK's biggest share flotation for two years, the stock has gained ten per cent, to about 310p.
If successful, Yell's promotion would see it become the second former British Telecom unit to join its parent in the top flight.
Mobile phone division mmO2 is also listed on the FTSE-100 index.
Yell has already told shareholders it is on track to meet full-year targets after posting solid maiden interim results as a public company.
BA, meanwhile, has battled through a tough period, which included an impromptu strike by check-in staff at Heathrow airport over a swipe card clocking-on system.
Its shares have more than doubled in value in the past six months, to about 195p.
The flag carrier was ejected from the top flight as international air travel slumped because of fears of terrorism and the global economic slowdown.
BA has also overcome the Sars outbreak, which dented air travel to Asia.
Its market value, based on Friday's closing share price, is £2.2bn.
The FTSE reshuffles its benchmark index every three months to ensure that only Britain's biggest companies are included in the club.
Favourites for relegation from the Footsie include All Bar One and Harvester owner Mitchells and Butlers, which has been at risk of dropping out since the last reshuffle in June.
Mitchells and Butlers only entered the top flight in April, following its demerger from InterContinental Hotels owner Six Continents.
Others likely to drop down into the FTSE 250 this time include financial stocks Provident Financial and Foreign and Colonial, water utility group Kelda, and drugs distributor Alliance UniChem.
The next quarterly update will be announced tomorrow, based on tonight's closing share prices.
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