Hong Kong stocks jump 1.75 pct on last session of 2009
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Hong Kong stocks jumped 375.88 points, or 1.75 percent to close at 21,872.52 in the shortened session on Thursday, the last trading day of 2009.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index opened 0.73 percent higher and moved up all the way till finishing the session near the day high of 21,886.32.
Turnover totaled 30.05 billion HK dollars (about 3.88 billion U. S. dollars), a much applauded achievement for the half-day session given subdued activities on the market around Christmas.
Heavy-weight China Mobile and the Hong Kong-listed mainland financial stocks contributed the most to Thursday's market gain.
The leading telecom service provider, which topped the daily turnover chart, climbed 3.55 percent after it said it was "well on track" for its listing in the mainland bourse.
China Construction Bank helped add 49 points to the gauge by rising 2.93 percent, followed by Bank of China, which contributed 38 points by rising 3.19 percent.
The nation's biggest commercial lender ICBC, though a little lagged behind in terms of points contributed, still managed to grow 1.42 percent.
In addition, the two leading insurer Ping An and China Life advanced 3.5 percent and 1.72 percent respectively.
The properties sub-index moved up 1.64 percent on the day, with Cheung Kong gaining 1.36 percent and SHK rising 1.31 percent.
The Commerce and Industry category excelled by surging 2.13 percent on the day, amid increasing signs of a reviving economy and the willingness to spend.
Utility shares were soft on the day, up only 0.18 percent. The sector was also the worst-performer of the year.
Compared to the beginning of the year, the Hang Seng Index was up 52.02 percent, the highest annual gain in percentage terms since 1999, according to Dow Jones.
The Hang Seng Index started the year at 14,387 and fell as low as 11,344 on March 9, three days ahead of HSBC's rights issue.
Hong Kong's stock market will close Friday for New Year's Day and will reopen Monday.
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