Malaysian share prices closed 0.26 percent higher on Tuesday as investors accumulated banking and gaming stocks in the hope of gains after the long holiday break, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index was up 2.33 points at 914.91. Volume was 306.29 million shares, worth some 543.55 million ringgit (143 million dollars) while gainers led losers 484 to 153. Tenaga Nasional was up 0.20 ringgit at 10.50 ringgit, Telekom Malaysia was down 0.10 ringgit at 10.60 and Malayan Banking was flat at 12.20.
Banking stocks were higher with Public Bank up 0.15 ringgit at 7.70, Hong Leong Bank up 0.05 ringgit at 5.50, Southern Bank gained 0.04 ringgit to 3.56 and Malaysian Plantations rose 0.02 ringgit to 2.72. Gaming stocks were firmer as Magnum 4D gained 0.20 ringgit to 3.64, Berjaya Sports Toto up 0.04 ringgit at 4.08, Tanjong rose 0.20 ringgit to 14.50 and Magnum Corp advanced 0.01 ringgit at 2.31.
British American Tobacco (Malaysia) was up 0.50 ringgit at 48.25 after saying it expected 2005 cigarette sales to grow one percent instead of declining as earlier projected.