Roundup: Hong Kong stocks close 0.70 pct higher

Hong Kong stocks moved up 170.05 points, or 0.70 percent, to close on Thursday at 24,522.63 points.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index traded between 24,438.98 and 24, 589.62. Turnover totaled 99.46 billion HK dollars (about 12.83 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index ended up 25.95 points, or 0.22 percent, to close at 12,047.272.

Two sub-indices lost ground with the Properties ended down 0.45 percent, the Utilities moved down 0.03 percent. Two sub-indices gained ground with the Commerce and Industry ended up 1.03 percent and the Finance moved up 0.79 percent.

The Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, edged up 1.84 percent to 71.90 HK dollars.

Bank of East Asia, one of the largest local banks in Hong Kong, ended up 0.48 percent to 31.15 HK dollars.

Local bourse operator HKEX moved up 0.23 percent to 177.90 HK dollars.

China Mobile, China's dominant mobile carrier, rose 1.18 percent to 103.30 HK dollars, while another Chinese telecom giant China Unicom moved up 0.67 percent to 12.10 HK dollars.

For the local property stocks, Sun Hung Kai, one of HK's largest property developer by market value, ended down 0.73 percent to 122.00 HK dollars; Cheung Kong properties, owned by billionaire Li Ka-shing, moved up 0.64 percent to 141.50 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, increased 0.79 percent to 6.42 HK dollars.

ICBC, the world's largest bank by market value, moved up 0.52 percent with 5.75 HK dollars. Bank of China rose 1.36 percent to 4. 46 HK dollars.

As for energy stocks, China's top refiner Sinopec ended up 0.97 percent to 6.23 HK dollars. PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, ended up 1.52 percent to 8.70 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.75 HK dollars) Endi