P&O, Carnival Shares Begin Recovery

Shares in shipping operator Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. moved to full speed ahead on Thursday, tracking a recovery course by U.S. cruise giant Carnival Corp., analysts said. P&O shares have underperformed the FTSE 100 index by as much as 38 percent on the year, but that pales to insignificance when placed alongside Carnival's share slump. The world's largest cruise operator is down 50 percent against the S&P 500 index on the year, having sunk to an 18-month low of $21-3/16 on March 17. The company set sail in 2000 valued at over $46. However, Carnival shares have rallied from the deep over the last three sessions to post an overnight close in New York of $24-3/16. P&O shares have charted a similar course.