Despite Covid woes, some travel industry shares are soaring – Bill Jamieson

Investors are taking an interest in businesses that have been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus lockdown, writes Bill Jamieson

Holiday in the sun? The Cathedral of Santa Maria in Majorca (Picture: Anita Bonita/Getty)

For the economy as well as the coronavirus pandemic, we look to be past the worst – barring, of course, a second peak. The relief is palpable for millions of savers and pensioners who have watched helplessly as stock markets here and overseas plunged in March.

But a faltering recovery has gathered pace. This week the FTSE 100 Index, comprising global companies, rose above 6,100 points. It is still well shy of the 7,600-plus level prevailing in early March. But it has now clambered up by 23 per cent from its low on March 23. The 250 Index of medium-sized UK-economy-facing companies has rallied by just over a third (34 per cent) from its March 19 low.

Of particular note are that airlines, hotels and consumer stocks – the sectors most devastated by the pandemic and subsequent lockdown – continued to dominate the FTSE’s leaders.

Shares in British Airways owner International Consolidated Airways Group sported a 19 per cent gain earlier this week, while budget airline Easyjet flew 11 per cent higher to 618p. The Intercontinental Hotel Group advanced 10 per cent while cruise operator Carnival gained nine per cent. But the star performer was travel operator Tui which put on a Lazarus-like performance, with its shares rising 38 per cent.

Chief executive Fritz Joussen said it could now “plan holidays for Majorca, the Spanish mainland, and the Canary Islands”.

Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson said strength in the travel sector “underscores confidence among investors that economies are reopening, and consumers are keen to travel. There is a lot more hope that travel restrictions across Europe will be eased in time for the summer holidays”. Scotland’s desperate hotel and tourism sector can only hope that such lifting of travel restrictions becomes a two-way street before long.

Meanwhile, there was encouraging news from the EY Scotland Attractiveness Survey that we increased inward investment in 2019 at a faster pace than the UK and with a greater share of UK projects.

Glasgow has bounced up the ranks to third most-attractive UK city, excluding London, followed by Edinburgh in fourth and Aberdeen in seventh. Bowed we may be, but far from beaten.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director