Monday newspaper round-up: Oil prices, Cameron, easyJet

The oil price could spike to 150 dollars a barrel if the troubles in Syria engulf the Middle East, City analysts predict, while motorists are being warned of a feed-through into new "record" prices at the pumps. President Barack Obama may have pulled back from an imminent airstrike this weekend, but the markets are still readying for US action, with traders aware that Obama has drawn a "red line" over the use of chemical weapons, The Daily Telegraph explains. Senior figures from each of the main parties urged the Prime Minister to seize on President Obama's decision to delay military action. David Cameron's swift rejection of action after his parliamentary defeat last week was taken to mean that, even in the event of a second chemical attack by President Assad's regime, Britain would remain on the sidelines. The decision was said to have shocked even Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, says The Times. Britain's high street has enjoyed its best pick-up in sales since February, as the resurgent housing sector sparked the strongest performance from the homewares sector in years. That helped overall like-for-like sales rise 3.5% in August, according to the monthly tracker from accountants BDO, The Daily Telegraph reports. Holidaymakers seeking bargains in struggling Eurozone countries such as Spain and Portugal have lifted easyJet. Figures released this week will show ticket sales are growing and jets are flying almost full. Among the most popular destinations for flights by the budget operator, which entered the FTSE 100 list of the UK's biggest companies earlier this year, are Alicante, Malaga and Faro, The Daily Mail writes. A national strike of postal workers aimed at derailing the privatisation of Royal Mail will become more likely today when the Communication Workers Union reveals plans to ballot 115,000 staff, The Times reports.Egypt's state prosecutor has sent Mohamed Morsi, the ousted Islamist president, for trial on charges of inciting violence that led to the killing of at least 10 people during protests outside the presidential palace in December. The prosecutor also referred to court on similar charges 14 other members of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood. No date has been set for the trial, according to the Financial Times. AB