Optimism about growth boosts Chinese equities

Nikkei: 8,762.31 (–81.67) Hang Seng: 18,968.20 (+196.38) Shanghai Comp: 2,409.67 (+39

Nikkei: 8,762.31 (–81.67) Hang Seng: 18,968.20 (+196.38) Shanghai Comp: 2,409.67 (+39.34)CHINESE SHARES continued to rise yesterday, as resource-related stocks benefited from recent optimism about a return to strong economic growth.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index advanced 1.1 per cent, led by commodity and energy producers.

Cnooc, an offshore oil producer, gained 5.4 per cent to HK$14.42. Aluminium group Chalco rose 1.8 per cent to HK$3.90 ahead of its results.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite climbed 1.7 per cent to 2,409.7, with Shanxi Coal up 7.3 per cent to Rmb25.84.

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The FTSE Asia Pacific index rose just 0.1 per cent as Japanese exporters were weighed down by the persistently strong yen.

Car makers were lower. Many have seen their supply chains hit by flooding at their plants in Thailand. Toyota, the world’s biggest car maker, fell 1.7 per cent to ¥2,536.

Mazda fell 3.1 per cent to ¥157 and Honda eased 0.6 per cent to ¥2,342.

Canon lowered its profit forecast on Tuesday due to damage at its camera parts supplier, it fell 1.8 per cent to ¥3,490. – (Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011)