Malaysian shares higher

Malaysian share prices closed 1.1 percent higher Monday due to improved market sentiment following the central bank's decision to hold interest rates at 3.5 percent, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 12.34 points to 1,154.09 in heavier-than-average volume of 785 million shares while gainers led decliners 495 to 140.
Dealers said firm buying interest was likely to carry the benchmark index higher Tuesday with immediate resistance at 1,160 points. "Stocks rose across all sectors today, partly triggered by gains on Wall Street. In particular, oversold blue chips and plantation stocks gained the most as local funds bargain hunted," a dealer told Dow Jones Newswires.