HK stocks end 0.21% higher

Hong Kong stocks rose 0.21 percent on Friday. The benchmark Hang Seng index closed up 46.81 points to end at 22,666.59 points, after trading between 22,628.46 and 22,706.33. Turnover totaled 39.64 billion HK dollars (about 5. 11 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 29.74 points, or 0. 26 percent, to close at 11,378.24.

Three sub-indices gained ground, with the Commerce and Industry sub-indice rising the most by 0.48 percent, followed by the Utility 0.37 percent and the Finance 0.10 percent. The Properties fell 0.33 percent.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, fell 0.1 percent to 81.90 HK dollars, while its local unit Hang Seng Bank ended 0.1 percent lower at 118.50 HK dollars. Bank of East Asia, another Hong Kong's major bank, closed 0.6 percent higher to 29.70 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX added 0.1 percent to 131.90 HK dollars.

Local developers Hang Lung Properties decreased 1.5 percent to 30.40 HK dollars. Henderson Land, another major developer in Hong Kong, lost 1.9 percent to 55.45 HK dollars, and Cheung Kong Holding, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, closed up 0.2 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 0.2 percent at 6.24 HK dollars. ICBC, the world's largest bank by market value, declined 0.2 percent at 5.53 HK dollars. Bank of China advanced 0. 6 at 3.46 HK dollars. Bank of Communications, China's fifth biggest lender measured by assets, increased 0.5 percent to 5.79 HK dollars.

As for energy stocks, China's top refiner Sinopec gained 0.6 percent to 8.75 HK dollars. PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, closed flat at 11.02 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.751 HK dollars)