By Jihoon Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's chief presidential policy adviser said on Thursday he was "optimistic" about talks to finalise a trade deal with the U.S., the latest remark by an official pointing to progress in negotiations that helped fuel an auto-led stock market rally. Kim Yong-beom and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan spoke to reporters before departing for the United States. They will be joining Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo for follow-up negotiations ...

Core Insights - Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, B. de C.V. (Volaris) is facing significant challenges due to adverse currency translation effects, weak liquidity, and increased operating expenses, making it less attractive for investors [1] Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, Volaris reported revenues of $678 million, a decline of 11.7% year-over-year, primarily due to peso depreciation and lower revenue per passenger [4][7] - Total Revenue per Available Seat Mile (TRASM) decreased by 17% year-over-year to 7.76 cents, indicating reduced revenue efficiency [7] - The average base fare fell nearly 29% to $39, contributing to a 17.6% decline in total operating revenue per passenger, which dropped to $91 [8] Operating Expenses and Liquidity - Total operating expenses increased to $688 million in Q1 2025, up from $664 million in the same quarter of the previous year [9] - The company's current ratio stands at 0.74, indicating serious short-term liquidity concerns as it suggests insufficient cash to meet short-term obligations [9] Market Sentiment - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has seen a significant downward revision, reflecting a lack of confidence from brokers [2] - Volaris's stock has underperformed, with shares dropping 33.5% over the past year, contrasting with an 18.8% rise in the Transportation - Airline industry [3]