Malaysian share prices closed 0.35 percent higher on Monday, supported by gains in select blue chips in the oil and gas and construction sectors, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 4.85 points at 1,378.69.
Volume was 1.366 billion shares worth 2.13 billion ringgit (619.2 million dollars) while gainers led losers 584 to 345 and 280 stocks were unchanged. At the close, the ringgit was quoted at 3.4400/4450 against the dollar. TA Securities head of research Kaladher Govindan said investors were still concerned about the outlook for the US economy and market in light of the problems in the US mortgage market.
Govindan said the local bourse is expected be range-bound for the rest of the week, adding that select stocks with positive newsflows might outperform. Index heavyweights closed mixed as Maybank, the country's largest lender, gained 0.10 ringgit to 12.30 ringgit, national power company Tenaga was unchanged at 11.20 and Telekom Malaysia fell 0.10 to 10.50.
Construction and building material companies were higher on continued optimism that the government will pump in more money on infrastructure spending to boost the economy. Muhibbah Engineering led the gainers list, rising 1.15 ringgit to 8.15 after the company won a 1.1 billion ringgit contract for construction work on the South Klang Valley Expressway.
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