EasyJet investor plays down bid talk

Takeover speculation responsible for sending easyJet shares to an 18-month high was played down today by the airline boss at the centre of London market interest.

Hannes Smarason, who is chairman of the owner of Icelandic flag carrier Icelandair, denied his company was behind yesterday’s heavy buying of easyJet’s shares, which helped drive the share price up by another 7%.