LIVE MARKETS-Travel and tourism stocks dip amid new tariff round: Souring sentiment or summer volatility?

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TRAVEL AND TOURISM STOCKS DIP AMID NEW TARIFF ROUND: SOURING SENTIMENT OR SUMMER VOLATILITY?

As the temperature of Trump's hydra-headed tariff spat rises along with the mercury, it's worth revisiting the effect this administration's generally unpopular policies are having on the U.S. tourism industry.

Today, travel-related stocks are underperformers. Airlines in particular are suffering a steep pull-back from Thursday's gains.

The S&P 1500 Airline index .SPCOMAIR, which on Thursday had its biggest one-day percentage gain since early April, is off 2.6%, with all 12 constituents red. American Airlines AAL.O and United Airlines UAL.O are big losers in that group, both off about 3.7%. MGM Resorts MGM.N is off 1.5%, Carnival Corp CCL.N and Norwegian Cruise Line NCLH.K are down 1.1% and 1.5%, respectively.

Even in light of the weakening dollar =USD, which should make traveling to the U.S. more attractive to foreign tourists, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has projected the U.S. economy stands to lose about $12.5 billion in international tourists spending.

But that was two months ago. This month, the dollar appears to be regaining some strength.

"The overarching concern about reheated tariff negotiations or threats against Canada and other countries and that could have a broader impact," Oliver Pursche, senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors tells Reuters. "All of these political agendas could interfere, and dampen appetite to come to the U.S."

Still, recent stock price movement could be a symptom of summer trading, particularly on a Friday when volume tends to dip, which tends to fuel volatility.

A look at Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) throughput data shows the seven-day average (from July 4 through 10) posted a 1.2% increase over the same week last year.

Year-to-date the SPCOMAIR is off about 8%. But the S&P 1500 Hotel, Resorts and Cruise index .SPCOMHOTL has advanced 12.6% over the same time period.

(Stephen Culp)

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