Oil price rockets
The North American blizzards sent oil prices spiralling to nearly $50 a barrel yesterday signalling higher costs for the travel industry. The price hike was caused by demand for heating oil, coupled with uncertainty over the forthcoming elections in Iraq, scheduled for Sunday. The north-east coast of America, where the snowstorms have been heaviest, is the biggest domestic heating market in the world, and oil dealers fear the Iraqi elections will trigger sabotage by insurgent groups, hitting supplies.
The FTSE 100 closed up 9.2 points at 4812.5 while the FTSE 250 dropped 20.2 to 7070.4
In the wake of the Aurora fiasco, leisure group Carnival saw further selling, leaving it 95p down at 3130p.
Alpha Airports 91p UP 2.5p
BAA 599p UP 1.5p
British Airways 245p DOWN 2.5p
Carnival 3130p DOWN 95p
De Vere 480p DOWN 2p
EasyJet 202.75p DOWN 1.25p
ebookers 317.5p UP 0.5p
EuroDisney 13p NO CHANGE
Eurotunnel 17p DOWN 0.75p
First Choice 164.5p UP 0.5p
Hilton Group 301.75p DOWN 2.25p
Holidaybreak 662p UP 1p
Intercontinental 676.5p DOWN 0.5p
lastminute.com 110.25p DOWN 1.25p
MyTravel 6.5p NO CHANGE
P&O 296.5p down 4.5p
Rank Group 270.75p DOWN 2.25p
Ryanair 391.25p DOWN 10.25p
Stagecoach 112p DOWN 0.5p
TBI 93.25p UP 0.25p
Ginny McGrath
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