Roundup: HK stocks close 0.26 pct higher

Hong Kong stocks ended higher on Wednesday with the benchmark Hang Seng index rising 0.26 percent, or 71.51 points to end at 27,404.97 points. Turnover totaled 117. 04 billion HK dollars (about 15.08 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 75.33 points, or 0. 55 percent, to close at 13,684.80.

Two sub-indices gained ground, with the Commerce and Industry sub-index rising by 0.79 percent and the Properties 0.15 percent. The Utility fell 0.96 percent, while the Finance lost 0.02 percent.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, fell 0.1 percent at 73.65 HK dollars, while its local unit Hang Seng Bank closed down 1.3 percent to 154.10 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX gained 0.1 percent at 286.80 HK dollars.

Local developers Hang Lung Properties jumped 0.4 percent to 23. 85 HK dollars. Henderson Land, another major developer in Hong Kong, grew 1.0 percent to 54.25 HK dollars, and Cheung Kong Holding, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, retreated 0.3 percent to 117.80 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, went down 0.4 percent to 7.37 HK dollars. ICBC, the world's largest bank by market value, was up 1.4 percent to 6.72 HK dollars. Bank of China advanced 0.7 percent to 5.44 HK dollars.

PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, added 2. 7 percent to 9.10 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.761 HK dollars) Endi