04/01/2018 (Nikkei Asian Review) - KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 04) -- Malaysia's plantation stocks among top gainers on KLCI as investors step up purchases amid unconfirmed talks of suspension of export tax on crude palm oil. Bursa Malaysia plantation index up 0.6%, near two-month high, driven in part by IOI Corporation, which gains 1.6% at MYR4.60, Sime Darby Plantations +1.1% at MYR5.56. Malaysian palm oil exports likely rose 8.2% month-on-month in Dec. 2017, CIMB Investment Bank's head of research Ivy Ng says in note to clients. "I'm looking at an average 15% increase (in exports) this year, driven in part by demand from China," says David Ng, analyst at Phillip Futures; adds, rumors of suspension of export duties on palm oil, prior to Malaysia's general election this year, could drive demand higher. Expects government may announce relevant measures Friday. Hap Seng Consolidated +0.6%, Kuala Lumpur Kepong +0.1%, Felda Global Ventures +2.2% at MYR1.90.