Ocean container carriers’ share prices rose by an average 19 percent in the past year as growing optimism over a market recovery in 2010 outweighed the impact of record operating losses. The performance of 13 publicly listed shipping companies varied widely, ranging from a gain of 118 percent by Chinese carrier CSCL to a 48 percent drop at Japan’s NYK, according to Paris-based consultant. Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas (OOCL) was up 101 percent, COSCO gained 61 percent over the past year, and Singapore’s NOL, parent of APL, climbed 33 percent. A.P. Moller-Maersk, the owner of Maersk Line, rose 24 percent. … Japan’s K Line suffered a 36 percent drop in its share price and Hyundai Merchant Marine of South Korea saw its stock value shrink by 24 percent between January 2 and December 25. Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co and France’s CMA CGM, the second and third largest carriers, are privately owned companies and sixth ranked Hapag-Lloyd is jointly owned by German tourism giant TUI and the Hamburg-based Albert Ballin investor group.
