Malaysia Hot Stocks-Market seen down after holidays

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Malaysian shares are
likely to fall on Monday, with investors returning from Lunar
New Year holidays staying cautious after last week's drop in
global markets, dealers said.

"I think the market will be cautious with a downside bias.
Volume will be low," said the dealer at a local brokerage.

But expectations of a snap general election and bouyant
palm oil prices could limit losses, as plantation stocks such
as Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLKK.KL: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and IOI Corp (IOIB.KL: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) could
buck the trend, one dealer said.
Malaysia's government traditionally announces major spending
plans ahead of the elections. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi is due to launch on Monday an economic blueprint for the
energy-rich Sarawak state on Borneo island.

The Malaysian market was closed on Thursday and Friday for
the Lunar New Year holidays.

On Wednesday, the benchmark Kuala Lumpur Composite Index
.KLSE fell 1.15 percent to close at 1,415.94. The February
futures contract KLIG8 put the index at 1,404. The March
contract KLIH8 settled at 1,402.

On Friday, the S&P 500 fell and the Dow Jones industrials
ended its worst week in nearly five years as investors unloaded
shares of financials, home builders and other sectors at the
centre of the credit market crisis.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 64.87
points,or 0.53 percent, at 12,182.13. The Standard & Poor's 500
Index .SPX was down 5.62 points, or 0.42 percent, at
1,331.29. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 11.82
points, or 0.52 percent, at 2,304.85.
(Reporting by Jalil Hamid; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)