Malaysian shares closed 0.5 percent higher on Monday despite sentiment remaining fragile due to concerns over the state of the economy in the United States, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 4.5 points to close at 923.57, with advancing stocks leading decliners 231 to 214.
"Intermittent profit taking by retail players capped gains," one trader told Dow Jones Newswires. "Local funds were the main catalyst today but there wasn't much conviction. Sentiment remains fragile due to concerns over the state of the economy in the US," he added. Among advancing stocks, TM rose 4.6 percent to 3.16 ringgit and Maybank was 1.8 stronger at 5.70 ringgit. Tenaga lost 1.5 percent to 6.50 ringgit.