FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Tui and European airline stocks stood out on Thursday with above-average price losses. Tui shares fell 5 percent to their 50-day line. Signs from the Middle East are causing tension and do not bode well.
The US is reducing its embassy staff in Iraq for security reasons. Officially, there is no reason given for this. However, according to unconfirmed US media reports, it is due to fears of an imminent Israeli attack on Iran. There are concerns that the leadership in Tehran could order retaliatory strikes against US targets in the region.
The news had already caused oil prices to rise significantly the previous evening, putting fuel costs for airlines even more in the spotlight.
US airline stocks had already weakened on Wall Street. Current inflation figures and further declines in ticket prices were cited as reasons for this. /ag/mis
