Roundup: HK stocks close 1.51 pct higher

Hong Kong stocks closed up 368. 92 points, or 1.51 percent, to 24,855.12 points on Monday.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index traded between 24,725.52 and 24, 949.35. Turnover totaled 140.8 billion HK dollars (about 18.17 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 3.43 percent, or 408. 71 points, to close at 12,306.56.

Three out of the four sub-indices gained ground, with the Finance rising the most by 1.74 percent. The Commerce and Industry increased 1.5 percent, and the Properties added 1.25 percent. However, the Utilities retreated 0.16 percent.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, closed down 0.59 percent at 66.95 HK dollars, while its local unit Hang Seng Bank fell 0.14 percent to 140.40 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX jumped 7.94 percent to close at 193 HK dollars.

Local developers Hang Lung Properties rose 0.23 percent to 21. 45 HK dollars. Henderson Land, another major developer in Hong Kong, climbed 1.23 percent to 54.60 HK dollars, and Cheung Kong Holding, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, went up 2.03 percent to 160.5 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, added 1.74 percent to 6. 42 HK dollars. ICBC, the world's largest bank by market value, closed 2.73 percent higher at 5.65 HK dollars. Bank of China gained 3.24 percent to 4.46 HK dollars.

PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, was up 2.04 percent to 8.51 HK dollars. Sinopec, another leading oil refiner, ended at 6.12 HK dollars, up 1.49 percent. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.761 HK dollars) Endi