Roundup: HK stocks close 0.49 pct higher

Hong Kong stocks moved up 0.49 percent, or 119.27 points to end at 24,494.51 points on Monday.

The benchmark Hang Seng index traded between 24,436,42 and 25, 559.77. Turnover totaled 91.75 billion HK dollars (about 11.82 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 21.42 points, or 0. 18 percent, to close at 12,177.82.

Four sub-indices all gained ground, with the Finance sub-index rising the most by 0.69 percent, followed by the Properties 0.57 percent, the Utility 0.56 percent, and the Commerce and Industry 0. 21 percent.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, closed up 1.4 percent to 67.35 HK dollars, while its local unit Hang Seng Bank lost 0.4 percent to 138.40 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX increased 2.9 percent at 182. 00 HK dollars.

Local developers Hang Lung Properties rose 1.2 percent to 21.40 HK dollars. Henderson Land, another major developer in Hong Kong, climbed 1.4 percent to 51.50 HK dollars, and Cheung Kong Holding, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka- shing, slid 0.7 percent to 150.60 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, retreated 0.2 percent to 6.47 HK dollars. ICBC, the world's largest bank by market value, closed flat at 5.69 HK dollars. Bank of China added 0.2 percent to 4.46 HK dollars.

PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, was down 0.8 percent to 8.30 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.761 HK dollars) Endi