KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 30): The FBM KLCI crossed the 1,750-point level at mid-morning today, riding on the post Budget 2018 momentum and in line with regional advance.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI rose 3.99 points to 1,750.12.

The top gainers included Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Batu Kawan Bhd, Metrod Holdings Bhd, PMB Technology Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Oriental Holdings Bhd and British American Tobacco (M) Bhd.

The actives included Nova MSC Bhd, UMW Oil & Gas Corp Bhd, Trive Property Group Bhd, Sumatec Resources Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, PUC Bhd and Palette Multimedia Bhd.

Meanwhile, the decliners included warrants of IOI Corp Bhd, Eco World International Bhd, Sunway Construction Group Bhd, V.S. Industry Bhd, Boustead Holdings Bhd, Malakoff Corp Bhd, Genting Bhd and Bumi Armada Bhd as well as shares of Allianz Malaysia Bhd.

Asian shares climbed on Monday and crude oil rose to a two-year top, while the euro loitered around a three-month low as the European Central Bank's decision to extend its stimulus further fattened the US dollar's yield advantage, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.2%. The index is up 3.4% so far this month, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research in a trader's brief said that moving forward, investors may take a firmer stance after the recent upbeat third quarter (3Q) US earnings and the stronger-than-forecasted 3Q GDP annualized rate of 3%.

"Next thing that investors may monitor will be the corporate tax reform details that could be releasing soon.

"Meanwhile, stocks on the local front are likely to trend higher following the booster from the recent conclusion of the Budget 2018 which focused on the benefit of rakyat and booster to various sectors (automotive, aviation, consumer and construction) of the economy.

"Also, with the steadier crude oil prices, we anticipate oil and gas stocks may get a rerating catalyst soon," it said.