By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Travel stocks dragged the FTSE 100 index
lower again on Wednesday on fears that the spread of the deadly
Ebola virus will hamper tourism businesses.
The London benchmark dropped 0.2% to close at 6,482.24, setting
it on track for a second straight day in the red.
Posting some of the biggest losses in the index, TUI Travel PLC
lost 3.9%, easyJet PLC fell 0.8%, cruise operator Carnival PLC
shaved off 1.3% and British Airways parent International
Consolidated Airlines Group SA (ICAGY) dropped 0.7%.
Travel stocks also recorded large declines on Tuesday, after a
Spanish nurse was the first person outside West Africa to de
diagnosed with Ebola. Looking at previous pandemics in relation to
travel trends, the European Commission has concluded that the sharp
decline in tourism in 2003 was partly linked to a Sars
outbreak.
Among other decliners in London on Wednesday, Rio Tinto PLC
(RIO) fell 1%. The mining giant rose 0.8% on Tuesday after it was
confirmed that rival Glencore PLC approached Rio Tinto about a
possible takeover earlier in the year. Rio Tinto rebuffed the deal,
and Glencore said it is no longer actively considering a merger.
Glencore shares lost 1.3% on Wednesday.
On a more upbeat note, shares of Tesco PLC climbed 1.4% after
HSBC lifted the supermarkets firm to neutral from underweight.
Outside the main index, shares of London Mining PLC tanked 76%
after the mining company said "there will be little or no value
remaining in the equity," after talks with potential investors
failed to help.
In data news for the U.K., a survey from building society
Halifax showed house prices in the U.K. continued to rise in
September but at a slower pace
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