** Ryanair surges to a record high and is among topgainers across Europe on Monday after hiking profitforecasts by almost 20 pct.
** Stock up 8.6 pct and lifts peers too. easyJet up2.5 pct, top performer on the FTSE 100. IAG up1.3 pct.
** Ryanair says it would slash fares by up to 10 pct in thenew year to steal more market share from struggling higher-costrivals.
** Likely to widen the divergence between it & likes ofLufthansa and Air France which both cutprofit forecasts in recent days.
(RM: vikram.subhedar.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)