The BSE benchmark Sensex today regained the psychological 18,000 level after three months rising by over 176 points in late morning trade on aggressive buying on hopes of good first quarter results by corporate. The 30-share barometer rose by 176.53 points, or 0.98 per cent, to 18,010 points, a level last seen on April 7, 2010. The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also breached the 5,400 points mark and was trading 50.25 points or 0.93 per cent higher at 5,402 points at 1030 hrs.Asian stocks kicked off a new week today with modest gains, after Wall Street closed out its best week in a year on Friday.The key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and South Korea rose between 0.07 per cent and 0.81 per cent.The Sensex later pared its initial gains, to stand 101 points, or 0.6 percent in the green, at 17,934, a short while ago. The NIFTY at the National Stock Exchange stood 31 points up at 5384 points.