Roundup: HK stocks close 0.99 pct higher

Hong Kong stocks ended up 0.99 percent on Thursday, with the benchmark Hang Seng index rising 238. 31 points to end at 24,350.91 points, after trading between 23,070. 39 and 24,369.00. Turnover totaled 93.11 billion HK dollars (about 11.99 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 182.15 points, or 1. 52 percent, to close at 12,190.52.

Four sub-indices all gained ground, with the Finance sub-index rising the most by 1.14 percent, followed by the Utility 1.11 percent, the Properties 0.87 percent and the Commerce and Industry 0.82 percent.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, closed down 0.4 percent to 70.60 HK dollars, while its local unit Hang Seng Bank rose 0.7 percent to 130.80 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX increased 0.2 percent at 178. 20 HK dollars.

Local developers Hang Lung Properties lost 0.2 percent to 21.20 HK dollars. Henderson Land, another major developer in Hong Kong, climbed 1.4 percent to 54.05 HK dollars, and Cheung Kong Holding, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka- shing, added 0.1 percent to 142.60 HK dollars.

As for mainland-based financial stocks, China Construction Bank, the country's second largest bank which accounts for the third largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, rose 0.9 percent to 6.45 HK dollars. ICBC, the world's largest bank by market value, went up 1.1 percent to 5.74 HK dollars. Bank of China went up 1.4 percent to 4.47 HK dollars.

PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, was up 1.5 percent to 8.86 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.761 HK dollars) Endi