Malaysian share prices closed 0.19 percent higher Tuesday, with investors largely staying on the sidelines, dealers said. They said a lack of positive leads and hesitation with the key index creeping towards resistance at the 920-point level kept investors subdued, although speculative lower liners continued to receive attention.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index closed up 1.70 points at 916.78 and volume traded was 443.11 million shares worth 557.91 million ringgit (146.82 million dollars) while losers outnumbered gainers 393 to 305.
"Trading was range-bound due to a lack of positive leads ... most investors are sidelined and were reluctant to make any further commitment until they can see a convincing breach of the 920-point level for the key index," said a local brokerage dealer.
Among blue chips, Telekom Malaysia and Malayan Banking were both flat at 10.70 ringgit and 11.10 respectively, while Tenaga Nasional was down 0.10 ringgit at 10.60.