Stock Market

Malaysian shares closed up 0.54 percent Friday due to investors buying into blue chips including Maybank, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 4.64 points to 856.82, with advancers outnumbering decliners 240 to 207. But dealers said volume was thin with investors adopting a cautious stance ahead of next weeks annual meeting of Malaysias ruling political party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).