HK stocks seen flat, oil stock may rise

HONG KONG, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks are expected
to hold steady on Thursday, tracking Wall Street, with oil stocks
in focus after a jump in oil prices.

The benchmark Hang Seng index .HSI rose 1.82 percent to
28,128.80 on Monday before the two-day Christmas break.

"The momentum will not be that strong because the holiday
mood is still going on. Turnover is likely to remain thin," said
Patrick Liu, director fo CASH Asset Management.

Resistence would be between 28,300 and 28,400, while support
was seen at around 27,900, he added.

STOCKS TO WATCH:

* China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp
(0981.HK)(SMI.N) will license sophisticated chip-making
technology from International Business Machines Corp (IBM.N), the
companies said on Wednesday. [ID:nSHA202080]

* European regulators have included Cathay Pacific (0293.HK)
in an investigation of suspected price rigging for freight
services, the Hong Kong-based carrier said on Monday, widening a
probe that has targeted Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) and other
airlines. Cathay Pacific said it would cooperate with
investigators. [ID:nHKG214984]

* The China Securities Regulatory Commission said on
Wednesday it had approved a plan by Zijin Mining Group (2899.HK),
the country's second-biggest gold miner, to float shares on the
Shanghai Stock Exchange in a deal that could be worth $2.3
billion. [ID:nSHA126793]

FACTORS TO WATCH:
* Japan stocks snap winning run as profits locked in [.T]
* U.S. stocks Dow, S&P near flat; Targets's view hurts retail[.N]
* STOCKS NEWS ASIA-Market factors, main events [STXNEWS/ASIA]
* Oil jumps 2 pct on expected drop in US stockpiles [O/R]
* Dollar steadies after overnight drop in thin trade [USD/]
* For upcoming Hong Kong events, click on [HK/DIARY]
* For Hong Kong press digest, click on [PRESS/HK]

KEY HK ADR MOVERS (by % change)

APT Satellite ATS.N(1045.HK) +3.17

Hutchison Telecom (HTX.N)(2332.HK) +1.55

CNOOC Ltd (CEO.N)(0883.HK) +1.35

PetroChina (PTR.N)(0857.HK) +1.27

Sinopec Shanghai Petroleum (SHI.N)(0338.HK) +0.88
(US$1=HK$7.8)
(Reporting by Judy Hua; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree)