Roundup: HK stocks close 0.98 pct higher

Hong Kong stocks closed higher on Monday, up 230 points, or 0.98 percent, to 23,604.08 points.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index traded between 23,235.61 and 23,620.09. Turnover totaled 74.07 billion HK dollars (about 9.54 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 166.52 points, or 1.72 percent, to close at 9,852.9.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, rose 1.02 percent to close at 59.4 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX climbed 0.68 percent to end at 208 HK dollars.

As for other heavyweights, China Mobile dropped 1.20 percent to 90.9 HK dollars, Tencent climbed 0.56 percent to 215.4 HK dollars. Local airline Cathay Pacific moved up 0.57 percent to close at 10.54 HK dollars.

CKH Holdings, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, added 0.76 percent to 98.95 HK dollars.

Most mainland-based financial stocks closed higher. Bank of China climbed 2.87 percent to 3.58 HK dollars. Bank of Communications gained 2.22 percent to 6 HK dollars. China Construction Bank climbed 1.92 percent to 5.83 HK dollars. ICBC rose 1.91 percent to 4.81 HK dollars.

As for energy stocks, PetroChina soared 2.71 percent to 5.69 HK dollars. CNOOC edged up 0.19 percent to 10.7 HK dollars. Sinopec climbed 2.24 percent to 5.93 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.76 HK dollars) Endit