Hang Seng Index finishes 1.68% higher at midday

Nov. 6, 2009 (China Knowledge) - Hong Kong stocks swelled 361 points or 1.68% to end the morning session at 21,841 points, with mainboard turnover standing at HK$37 billion.

The Hang Seng China Enterprise Index, which tracks the overall performance of 43 Chinese mainland state-owned enterprises on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, rose 219 points to 13,024 points.

Market heavyweight HSBC Holdings Plc<0005><HBC>, which accounts for the largest weighting for the Hang Seng Index, rose 1.88% to HK$86.85.

Greens Holdings<1318> surged 19.14% above its IPO price on its first trading day to HK$1.93. Hong Kong Catering Management Ltd<0668> declined 10.48% to HK$1.88. Shanghai International Shanghai Growth Investment Ltd<0770> decreased 10.53% to HK$1.7.

Stocks of ocean shipping firms showed good performances in the morning session. China COSCO Holdings Co Ltd<601919><1919> rose 3.36% to HK$10.16. China Shipping Development Co Ltd<600026><1138> swelled 2.02% to HK$11.12. China Shipping Container Lines Co Ltd<601866><2866> swelled 2.52% to HK$2.85. Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd<2343> rose 2.59% to HK$5.94.