Hong Kong - Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 2.96 per cent Thursday to a near-10-month high with bank and property company shares fuelling the jump

The Hang Seng was up 569.33 points to 19,817.7. Turnover was 74 billion Hong Kong dollars (9.48 billion dollars).

Analysts said stocks showed steady gains during the morning session. A slight correction in the early afternoon, when the index lost about 100 points, was followed by a
200-point recovery.

The largest gains among Hang Seng constituent stocks included property outfit Wharf Holdings Ltd, which rose 6.3 per cent to close at 35.65 Hong Kong dollars, and the Bank of Communications Ltd, which climbed 5.24 per cent to 9.64 Hong Kong dollars. (dpa)