TUI Travel reports improved winter bookings; Lufthansa upgraded by another analyst; Finnair down

TUI Travel (+7.3%) shares rocketed higher on Thursday (02-Dec-2010), leading the rise in European airline shares for the day. The company was up after reporting a 4.0% year-on-year improvement in profit before tax to GBP337 million, for the 12 months ended 30-Sep-2010. However, it reported a net loss of GBP104 million for the period, compared with a restated loss of GBP66 million in the previous corresponding period.