No jet fuel shortage in Europe, transport chief says; UK house prices dip again – business live
Introduction: EU sees no jet fuel shortage amid price surge, transport chief says
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.
With summer approaching, holidaymakers have been growing nervous that the Middle East crisis might leave airlines short of fuel.
But despite the lack of progress to reopen the strait of Hormuz, the European Union’s transport chief has insisted there are no signs of jet fuel shortages in Europe in the coming months.
Transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas has told Reuters:
“There is currently no jet fuel shortage in Europe. We have no signs that we will have a shortage in the coming period.”
Tzitzikostas pointed out that current high jet fuel prices have prompted airlines to cut uneconomic routes (an example of the demand destruction created by high energy costs), saying:
“This is why we see that some airlines are choosing to cancel some of their routes that didn’t make any economic sense.”
In May, airlines cut two million airline seats from their schedules, or less than 2% of global aviation capacity.
Looking further ahead, Tzitzikostas suggested that the situation would be “very difficult” by the end of the year if Middle Eastern supplies remained disrupted.
“It’s critical that the war stops and that the Strait of Hormuz opens and this needs to happen as soon as possible …. We should always keep in mind that Europe is prepared. We have the emergency stocks in our member states.”
“For the time being, there is a certain degree of stability.”
Back in April, the head of the International Energy Agency said Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel left before shortages will hit.
Seven weeks on, flights continue – as Tzitzikostas points out – but airlines have been raising ticket prices to pass on the cost of higher fuel, and also to dampen demand.
The agenda
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7am BST: Halifax’s UK house price index for May
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8.30am BST: UN’s FAO Food Price Index
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1.30pm BST: US non-farm payroll jobs report for May
Key events
The oil price is little changed this morning, with Brent crude trading around $95 a barrel.
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, says:
On the geopolitical front, conflicting messages from both Iran and the US have seen sentiment turn erratic. For now, oil prices are managing to stabilise around $95 a barrel, in the absence of a big reignition in the US military campaign.
But there remain big questions about how negotiations can meaningfully progress, especially with Israel’s actions in Lebanon such a sticking point. Hezbollah rejected proposals for a ceasefire, and although there are now reports it’s seeking fresh talks with the US, this will be a highly complex situation to resolve.
The US military action in Iran has opened a can of worms, with a slippery mix of geopolitical tensions escaping diplomatic attempts at containment, and threatening to unsettle markets further.
South Korea’s KOSPI index tumbles 5%
Sentiment in risk markets across Asia has soured today, as investors worry that the rally in technology stocks may be stalling.
South Korea’s KOSPI share index has dropped by 5% today (trimming its gains in 2026 to around 90%!), as a drop in chip shares on Wall Street yesterday ripples across markets.
Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone, says:
Questions are being asked more intently about whether some of the blockbuster trades of 2026 have had their time in the sun and are due for consolidation, and whether this modest pullback could evolve into something more pronounced.
A second takeover battle has ended without success for the pursuer.
US-based Apollo Global Management has said it does not intend to make a firm offer for British thermal processing services company Bodycote, following talks between the two sides.
William Hill owner to be taken over
There’s a little takeover drama in the City of London this morning: the company behind bookmaker William Hill is being acquired.
Evoke has agreed to be taken over by US casino operator Bally’s Intralot, in a deal which values Evoke at £243.1m.
Bally’s Intralot says the deal will create a “global gaming and lottery champion”, with “significant scale and relevance in Europe’s largest and most attractive gaming jurisdictions”.
The two sides have been talking for weeks, and Bally’s Intralot had been given a deadline of 5pm next Monday to reach a deal or walk away.
UK house prices dip for third month running
UK house prices have dipped again, as the jump in borrowing costs since the Middle East conflict began hits demand.
Lender Halifax has reported that house prices edged down -0.1% in May, the third monthly drop in a row after a 0.5% fall in March, and a 0.1% drop in April.
That pulled the average price, on Halifax’s index, down to £298,806, from £299,251 in April.
On an annual basis, prices were 0.5% higher than in May 2025.
Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Halifax, says:
“Property price trends continue to reflect the uncertainty linked to developments in the Middle East. Despite recent cuts to mortgage rates, higher inflation expectations have kept borrowing costs above the level seen at the start of the year, continuing to stretch affordability for many buyers and temper demand.
“Even so, overall activity has held up well, reflecting the underlying resilience of the UK housing market. Latest industry figures show transaction levels remain relatively stable, suggesting buyers and sellers are still moving.
UK shoppers return to high street
Phillip Inman
Greater numbers of UK consumers went shopping last month as spring sunshine brought welcome relief to retailers, which have faced a squeeze on spending since the US-Israel war on Iran.
Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and a separate survey by the accountancy firm BDO showed a bounce-back in footfall during May, reversing a sharp decline in April.
The recovery coincided with consumer confidence surveys showing a rise in May as shoppers began to get over the sharp rise in petrol and diesel prices linked to the Middle East conflict, which began in late February.
Introduction: EU sees no jet fuel shortage amid price surge, transport chief says
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.
With summer approaching, holidaymakers have been growing nervous that the Middle East crisis might leave airlines short of fuel.
But despite the lack of progress to reopen the strait of Hormuz, the European Union’s transport chief has insisted there are no signs of jet fuel shortages in Europe in the coming months.
Transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas has told Reuters:
“There is currently no jet fuel shortage in Europe. We have no signs that we will have a shortage in the coming period.”
Tzitzikostas pointed out that current high jet fuel prices have prompted airlines to cut uneconomic routes (an example of the demand destruction created by high energy costs), saying:
“This is why we see that some airlines are choosing to cancel some of their routes that didn’t make any economic sense.”
In May, airlines cut two million airline seats from their schedules, or less than 2% of global aviation capacity.
Looking further ahead, Tzitzikostas suggested that the situation would be “very difficult” by the end of the year if Middle Eastern supplies remained disrupted.
“It’s critical that the war stops and that the Strait of Hormuz opens and this needs to happen as soon as possible …. We should always keep in mind that Europe is prepared. We have the emergency stocks in our member states.”
“For the time being, there is a certain degree of stability.”
Back in April, the head of the International Energy Agency said Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel left before shortages will hit.
Seven weeks on, flights continue – as Tzitzikostas points out – but airlines have been raising ticket prices to pass on the cost of higher fuel, and also to dampen demand.
The agenda
-
7am BST: Halifax’s UK house price index for May
-
8.30am BST: UN’s FAO Food Price Index
-
1.30pm BST: US non-farm payroll jobs report for May
