IAG and easyJet shares set to slump again as Covid-19 cases surge
As cases of Covid-19 continue to climb across the world, airline stocks are being hit hard, with the British Airways owner IAG and low-cost carrier easyJet seeing their share prices slide on Thursday.
- IAG and easyJet shares take a hit amid rising Covid-19 cases globally
- British Airways owner IAG says all £2.5 billion rights issue shares taken up
- IATA downgrades 2020 forecasts after ‘worst-ever’ summer season
International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) and easyJet shares are coming under renewed pressure as rising Covid-19 cases see stricter restrictions imposed across Europe in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.
IAG and easyJet shares have fallen 4% on Thursday, trading at 95p and 475p respectively, with the former down 63% and the latter sliding 66% year-to-date.
IAG says that all £2.5 billion rights issue shares taken up
The British Airways owner told investors earlier this month that all the shares in its £2.5 billion rights issue have been taken up after demand exceeded supply.
IAG said shareholders took up 92.75% of new shares during the pre-emptive subscription period which ended on 26 September, with the rest of the shares allocated on a pro-rata basis after investors requested more than double the number of new shares remaining.
Coronavirus cases across Europe are surging, threatening tighter travel restrictions and even the prospect of another lockdown, which would spell disaster for IAG and the airline industry as a whole.
Revenues more than halved at IAG, with the company generating €5.3 billion in revenues for the six months ending 30 June, down from the €12 billion generated over the same period a year prior.
This resulted in IAG reporting a operating loss of €1.9 billion (excluding exceptional items), down from the more than €1 billion in profit it made over that same period in 2019.
‘We continue to expect that it will take until at least 2023 for passenger demand to recover to 2019 levels,’ IAG CEO Willie Walsh said.
‘Each airline has taken actions to adjust their business and reduce their cost base to reflect forecast demand in their markets not just to get through this crisis but to ensure they remain competitive in a structurally changed industry.'
IATA downgrades 2020 forecasts after ‘worst-ever’ summer season
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) slashed its traffic forecasts for 2020 after what it described as a ‘dismal’ end to the ‘worst-ever’ summer travel season.
‘August's disastrous traffic performance puts a cap on the industry's worst-ever summer season. International demand recovery is virtually non-existent and domestic markets in Australia and Japan actually regressed in the face of new outbreaks and travel restrictions,’ IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac said.
IATA forecasts global traffic in 2020 to be down 66% compared with last year.
‘Traditionally, cash generated during the busy summer season in the northern hemisphere provides airlines with a cushion during the lean autumn and winter seasons,’ Juniac added. ‘This year, airlines have so such protection.’
How to trade stocks with IG
Looking to trade easyJet and other stocks? Open a live or demo account with IG and buy (long) or sell (short) shares using derivatives like CFDs and spread bets in a few easy steps:
- Create an IG trading account or log in to your existing account
- Enter ‘easyJet PLC’ in the search bar and select it
- Choose your position size
- Click on ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ in the deal ticket
- Confirm the trade
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.
Act on share opportunities today
Go long or short on thousands of international stocks with spread bets and CFDs.
- Get full exposure for a comparatively small deposit
- Trade on spreads from just 0.1%
- Get greater order book visibility with direct market access
See opportunity on a stock?
Try a risk-free trade in your demo account, and see whether you’re on to something.
- Log in to your demo
- Take your position
- See whether your hunch pays off
See opportunity on a stock?
Don’t miss your chance – upgrade to a live account to take advantage.
- Trade a huge range of popular stocks
- Analyse and deal seamlessly on fast, intuitive charts
- See and react to breaking news in-platform
See opportunity on a stock?
Don’t miss your chance. Log in to take advantage while conditions prevail.
Live prices on most popular markets
- Equities
- Indices
- Forex
- Commodities
Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All share prices are delayed by at least 15 minutes.
Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All shares prices are delayed by at least 15 mins.
