Roundup: HK stocks close 0.35 pct higher

Hong Kong stocks ended up 0.35 percent on Thursday, with the benchmark Hang Seng index rising 85. 73 points to end at 24,765.49 points, after trading between 24,642. 81 and 25,048.26. Turnover totaled 100.17 billion HK dollars ( about 12.91 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 21.70 points, or 0. 18 percent, to close at 11,798.19.

Three sub-indices gained ground, with the Finance sub-index rising the most by 0.55 percent, followed by the Commerce and Industry 0.40 percent and the Properties 0.25 percent. The Utility lost 1.69 percent.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, closed down 0.3 percent to 72.20 HK dollars, while its local unit Hang Seng Bank rose 1.0 percent to 144.90 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX dereased 0.2 percent at 178.00 HK dollars.

Local developers Hang Lung Properties retreated 1.1 percent to 22.35 HK dollars. Henderson Land, another major developer in Hong Kong, added 0.1 percent to 55.00 HK dollars, and Cheung Kong Holding, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, lost 0.6 percent to 146.50 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, rose 1.9 percent to 6.39 HK dollars. ICBC, the world's largest bank by market value, went up 1.8 percent to 5.67 HK dollars. Bank of China grew 1.6 percent to 4.40 HK dollars.

PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, was down 2.3 percent to 8.56 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.761 HK dollars) Endi