Hong Kong shares fall 0.55 pct after weak China GDP data

* Turnover jumps to HK$74.6 billion on strong inflows

* PICC, China Eastern fall on disappointing earnings

* Huiyuan Juice soars on talk of likely suitors

(Updates to close)

By Parvathy Ullatil & Sui-Lee Wee

HONG KONG, April 16 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares fell 0.55 percent on Thursday, giving up early gains that sent the benchmark index to a six-month high, after disappointing earnings and faltering first-quarter Chinese economic growth prompted investors to lock in profits.

News that China posted its weakest quarterly economic growth on record halted a three-day rally in stocks, even though the March data showed that China may already be on the road to recovery [nPEK237287].

"I don't want to use the term recovery because the slowdown only really started in fourth quarter, but it does seem like China's economy is very close to the bottom," said Winson Fong, managing director at SG Asset Management.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index .HSI was down 0.55 percent at 15,582.99 with CNOOC (0883.HK) dropping 3.2 percent tracking lower crude oil prices.

Turnover jumped to HK$74.6 billion from Wednesday's HK$66.3 billion.

The China Enterprises Index .HSCE of top mainland companies was 1.76 percent lower at 9,141.23.

Chinese counters, including banks and resources which have been big winners in the recent rally, dropped taking a cue from the slight pullback on the Shanghai Composite Index.

Non-life insurer PICC P&C (2328.HK) plunged 9.73 percent to HK$4.74 after disappointing investors with its forecast-lagging 2008 earnings.

Earnings at PICC dropped 98 percent in 2008 on higher-than-expected underwriting losses and lower-than-expected investment income. Credit Suisse cut its rating on the stock to neutral from outperform and reduced its target price on the stock to HK$4.85 from HK$5.

STIMULUS HOPES TO HELP

The market was poised to extend gains next week with technicals pointing to a further upside for the Hang Seng Index, said analysts, betting that the main index would rise above 16,000 points in the near-term.