Hong Kong shares hit a 19-month high as energy stocks surge
SHANGHAI: Hong Kong stocks powered to 19-month closing highs on Monday, as surges in energy and tech shares helped sustain optimism sparked last week by belief the Federal Reserve won't raise US interest rates too aggressively this year.
But an index tracking mainland properties tumbled, after China stepped up real estate curbs in a number of cities, and vowed to restrict lending to the sector.
The Hang Seng index rose 0.8 per cent, to 24,501.99, while the China Enterprises Index gained 0.7 per cent, to 10,583.98 points.
China Shenhua Energy led gains in the energy sector and lifted market sentiment. Shenhua, one of China's top coal miners, surged 16 per cent to an 18-month high after it said its 2016 net profit rose 40.7 per cent and expected first-quarter net profit to climb at least 50 per cent.
Hong Kong's telecom, IT and software
shares were also strong, helping offset gloom about the listed Chinese developers.
The Beijing municipal government announced new steps to rein in its booming housing market after the market closed on Friday, joining a growing number of Chinese cities acting to curb property speculation.
Data on Saturday suggested the impact of earlier property cooling steps by many cities may have been short-lived. China's home prices picked up speed again in February after slowing in the previous four months, while sales have surged.
But an index tracking mainland properties tumbled, after China stepped up real estate curbs in a number of cities, and vowed to restrict lending to the sector.
The Hang Seng index rose 0.8 per cent, to 24,501.99, while the China Enterprises Index gained 0.7 per cent, to 10,583.98 points.
China Shenhua Energy led gains in the energy sector and lifted market sentiment. Shenhua, one of China's top coal miners, surged 16 per cent to an 18-month high after it said its 2016 net profit rose 40.7 per cent and expected first-quarter net profit to climb at least 50 per cent.
Hong Kong's telecom, IT and software
shares were also strong, helping offset gloom about the listed Chinese developers.
The Beijing municipal government announced new steps to rein in its booming housing market after the market closed on Friday, joining a growing number of Chinese cities acting to curb property speculation.
Data on Saturday suggested the impact of earlier property cooling steps by many cities may have been short-lived. China's home prices picked up speed again in February after slowing in the previous four months, while sales have surged.
