KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 25): The FBM KLCI opened higher today as investors took cue from  factors including higher US crude oil prices, which could have supported gains among oil and gas-related shares on Bursa Malaysia.

At 9am, the KLCI opened up 4.41 points at 1,698.00. At 9:14am, the KLCI rose 3.03 points to 1,696.62 as KLCI stocks Petronas Dagangan Bhd and MISC Bhd were traded among Bursa Malaysia top gainers.

Despite the KLCI's gain, analysts are still mindful of the index's rise as investors closely monitor the impact of the China-US trade war on world economic growth. 

"The local market should remain in consolidation mode with downside bias ahead of the weekend given the lack of positive catalyst on the local front,
while investors closely monitor the impact of the China-US trade war on world economic growth," TA Securities Holdings Bhd wrote in a note today.

US crude oil prices rose overnight on Thursday. Reuters reported that US oil prices rose by 1 percent on Thursday, boosted by the US threat of sanctions on Venezuela, but gains were capped by record high gasoline inventories and an unexpected big build in crude stocks in the US. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 51 cents to settle at US$53.13 a barrel, a 0.97 percent gain. Brent crude futures fell 5 cents to settle at US$61.09 a barrel.