AirAsia shares rise in early session

AirAsia Bhd's share prices soared in the early session today on a news report that the airline would be taken private via a management-led buyout.

At 10.50am, AirAsia jumped eight sen, with 61.553 million shares transacted.

The news report said AirAsia's founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and his business partner Datuk Kamarudin Meranun were working with banks to secure financing for the exercise, which could be launched over the next few months.