08.25.08, 9:46 PM ET
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Malaysian shares are expected to trade in a narrow range on Tuesday as voting starts in a by-election in which former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to win a seat in parliament.
'I think the market is going to be very quiet with the by-election,' said one trader.
The benchmark Kuala Lumpur Stock Index <.KLSE> closed at 1078.73 on Monday, marginally lower than Friday's 1,085.60 points and the index has lost around 25 percent this year, due in part to political concerns.
Polling stations opened in the by-election at 0800 (0000 GMT) and the result should be out at around 2100.
Political analysts say that Anwar needs to match his wife's 13,000-plus majority in the election in the constituency she vacated to allow him to run so as to be able to stand a chance of ousting the government.
Palm oil stocks are likely trade sideways after the crude oil price staged only a small recovery from Friday's big falls, traders said.
Malaysia's third largest listed planter, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd
The market is currently oversupplied and demand is falling and palm oil prices have plunged 40 percent since its March peak.
click here: Malaysian seen shares sidelined ahead of Anwar voteForbes, NY
