STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-easyJet up after solid traffic numbers

Shares in easyJet (EZJ.L) gain 2.5 percent following solid June traffic numbers from the discount airline which prompt Numis Securities to raise its rating to "add" from "hold".

EasyJet says June passenger numbers rose by 0.8 percent to 4.15 million, up from 4.11 million a year earlier, while its load factor fell 0.6 percentage points in June to 86.3 percent versus 86.9 percent a year earlier.

Numis says, in a note, that this suggests to it that the pricing environment for the discount airline remains benign and that yields probably remain within the guidance range of being positive in the second half at constant currency.

The broker says it has, however, trimmed its target price for easyJet to 290 pence from 335 to reflect its concerns about a difficult outlook for the sector over the winter, with both easyJet and rival Ryanair (RYA.I) planning significant capacity increases over the period.

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Reuters Messaging rm://jon.hopkins.reuters.com@reuters.net