HK stocks close 0.86% higher

HONG KONG, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong stocks performed strongly on Thursday, with the weighted index going up 198.98 points or 0.86 percent to close at 23,448.78.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index opened 304.95 points higher as the U.S. stock market rallied overnight. HSI traded between 23,388. 74 and 23,575.38 during the day's session.

Turnover rose to 93.03 billion HK dollars from Wednesday's 89. 02 billion HK dollars.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index added 137.55 points, or 1. 06 percent, to close at 13,087.40.

All but one sub-indices gained ground. The finance sub-index put on 1.18 percent, the properties went up 0.13 percent, the commerce and industry, 0.80 percent, while the utilities sub-index lost 0.12 percent.

Among blue-chips, Cosco Pacific staged strong performance with its share price jumped 4.86 percent to 12.94 HK dollars, while China Shenhua and China Coal plunged 5.11 percent and 4.44 percent respectively.

Heavyweight HSBC rose 0.76 percent at 80.10 HK dollars, China Mobile gained 0.13 percent to close at 78.20 HK dollars.

Chinese mainland lenders were all gainers. Bank of China increased 1.42 percent at 4.28 HK dollars, China Construction Bank edged up 2.56 percent to 7.21 HK dollars. ICBC ended 0.84 percent higher at 6.04 HK dollars, and Bank of Communications went up 1.34 percent to 8.33 HK dollars.

PetroChina gained 2.36 percent to 9.97 HK dollars, Sinopec went up 1.51 percent at 7.39 HK dollars, and offshore oil producer CNOOC up 3.18 percent to 17.54 HK dollars.

As for local developers, Cheung Kong, a flagship of Hong Kong led by billionaire Li Ka-shing, added 0.17 percent at 116.60 HK dollars. SHK Properties, the leading residential housing developer in Hong Kong, rose 0.46 percent to 130.30 HK dollars. Henderson Land inched up 0.09 percent to 54.65 HK dollars. (7.769 HK dollars =1 U. S. dollar)