Shares in AirAsia, Southeast Asia's biggest budget airline, lost almost eight percent in Kuala Lumpur on Monday after one of its jets disappeared with 162 people on board. The firm slumped 12 percent to 2.60 ringgit at the open but recovered slightly to sit at 2.71 ringgit, still down 7.82 percent, at 0600 GMT. The Airbus disappeared en route to Singapore from Surabaya in Indonesia's east Java after the crew requested a change of flight plan due to stormy weather. Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency said it is likely at the bottom of the sea. A local broker told the press investors were continuing to sell AirAsia shares. But selling pressure appeared to be abating as they digested the fact that the missing plane belonged to the Malaysian firm's Indonesian unit.
