Hong Kong shares ended sharply higher, with the main index finishing above 25,000 points for the first time. In a widely anticipated move, the Fed cut its benchmark rate by half a percentage point, its first reduction in four years, to 4.75 percent on Tuesday in a move to avert a possible economic slowdown in the US.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 977.79 points or 4%at 25, 554.64, after hitting a fresh intraday high of 25,648.44. Breadth was positive as gainers outpaced decliners 572 to 409 while 151 stocks were unchanged. Volume traded reached 18.17 billion share worth 131.81 billion HK dollars.
Market heavyweight CNOOC ended at a record high, up 1.32 dollars or 12.4% at HKD11.98. CNOOC, the listed arm of the mainland's largest offshore oil producer, China National Offshore Oil Corp, surged after oil prices breached 82 US dollars per barrel in after-market trading today. Brokerage house Goldman Sachs has a "buy" rating on CNOOC as it expects the company to benefit more than its peers from the higher oil prices. Its call warrant CNOOC-C1 surged a 6 cents (44.44%) to close at an intraday high of 19.5 cents.
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