UK: Easyjet share price hits 12-month low-point on mixed day for sector
London’s equity markets kicked the week off with a positive session in response to early gains on New York’s Wall Street.
The benchmark FTSE 100 index pushed ahead 70.1 points, closing 1.8 ahead at 3,940.3, while the broader-based FTSE 250 made more modest gains and added 0.6 per cent of its value to close at 4,322.9. Dealers were not particularly busy and traded 2.1 billion shares by the 6pm count.
There was mixed news in the travel sector; among the airlines British Airways had the best day and added 5.5p for a 122p finish. Easyjet suffered by comparison and slumped 8.75p to 181.25p – its lowest point for 12 months – while Ryanair managed to gain a penny for a closing price of 430p. First Choice lost 0.5p to close at 85p, while MyTravel also lost half a penny and ended the session at 10p.
The transport operator Stagecoach added 2p to close at 42p on the back of surprisingly good results – despite warning that its business in Hong Kong has been badly hit by the SARS outbreak.
