Malaysian share prices fell 0.2 percent Tuesday due to Wall Street's overnight plunge and doubts over the US rescue plans for its troubled banking sector, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 2.4 points to close at 1,026.18. Turnover was at 336.27 million shares valued at 733.35 million ringgit (216 million dollars) with 319 losers and 218 gainers.
Dealers also said there was some profit-taking. "The market is down due to the fall in the US bourse. Investors sentiment is still bearish," Kaladher Govindan, head of research with TA Securities, told AFP. Gaming company Genting gained 0.98 percent at 5.15 ringgit while top bank Maybank was flat at 6.95 ringgit. Communications giant Telekom Malaysia lost 2.92 percent at 3.32 ringgit, while power giant Tenaga shed 1.43 percent at 6.90 ringgit.