HK stocks end 0.11 pct higher

Hong Kong stocks rose 0.11 percent on Monday.

The benchmark Hang Seng index closed up 25.22 points to end the half-day trading at 22,531.51 points due to Christmas holiday, after trading between 22,494.71 and 22,577.56. Turnover totaled 22. 23 billion HK dollars (about 2.87 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 41.85 points, or 0. 37 percent, to close at 11,270.94.

Two sub-indices gained ground, with the Utility sub-indice rising by 0.48 percent, and the Finance 0.45 percent. The Properties closed flat, while the Commerce and Industry fell 0.21 percent.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, rose 0.7 percent to 81.65 HK dollars, while its local unit Hang Seng Bank ended 0.3 percent lower at 118.50 HK dollars. Bank of East Asia, another Hong Kong's major bank, closed 0.5 percent higher to 29.55 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX added 0.7 percent to 130.90 HK dollars.

Local developers Hang Lung Properties increased 0.3 percent to 30.35 HK dollars. Henderson Land, another major developer in Hong Kong, lost 0.2 percent to 56.05 HK dollars, and Cheung Kong Holding, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, closed down 0.3 percent to 118.90 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, moved up 1.1 percent at 6.21 HK dollars. ICBC, the world's largest bank by market value, climbed 0.5 percent at 5.51 HK dollars. Bank of China rose 0.3 percent at 3.42 HK dollars. Bank of Communications, China's fifth biggest lender measured by assets, added 0.4 percent to 5.70 HK dollars.

As for energy stocks, China's top refiner Sinopec lost 0.5 percent to 8.71 HK dollars. PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, went down 0.7 percent to 10.98 HK dollars. (1 U. S. dollar equals 7.751 HK dollars)