Roundup: HK stocks close 0.30 pct higher

Hong Kong stocks closed up 69.43 points, or 0.30 percent, to 23,374.40 points on Thursday.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index traded between 23,360.55 and 23,500.82. Turnover totaled 53.64 billion HK dollars (about 6.92 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 45.16 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 9,686.38.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, rose 0.91 percent to close at 58.8 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX gained 0.58 percent to end at 206.6 HK dollars.

As for other heavyweights, China Mobile dropped 0.91 percent to 92 HK dollars, Tencent climbed 0.65 percent to 214.2 HK dollars. Local airline Cathay Pacific moved down 0.19 percent to close at 10.48 HK dollars.

CKH Holdings, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, added 0.56 percent to 98.2 HK dollars.

Most mainland-based financial stocks dropped. Bank of China added 0.28 percent to 3.48 HK dollars. Bank of Communications moved up 0.85 percent to 5.87 HK dollars. China Construction Bank rose 0.7 percent to 5.72 HK dollars. ICBC gained 0.21 percent to 4.72 HK dollars.

As for energy stocks, PetroChina jumped 2.97 percent to 5.54 HK dollars. CNOOC rose 2.10 percent to 10.68 HK dollars. Sinopec gained 0.87 percent to 5.8 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.75 HK dollars) Endit