HK Hot Stocks: Financials and properties up in rally
HONG KONG, April 2 (Reuters) - Here are some stocks on the move in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
As of 0243 GMT, the blue chip Hang Seng Index .HSI had climbed nearly 4 percent, in a broad rally after strong gains on Wall Street.
The China Enterprises Index of Hong Kong-listed mainland companies .HSCE, or H shares, was up 4.8 percent.
STOCKS ON THE MOVE:
* Financial plays as soared after strong demand for a Lehman Brother's $4 billion share offering raised hopes that the worst was over for the financial sector.
Heavyweight HSBC (0005.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) climbed nearly 2.6 percent to HK$132.20, ICBC (1398.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) gained 5.2 percent to HK$5.83, Bank of China (3988.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) jumped 4.7 percent to HK$3.56 and Bank of Communications (3328.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) soared 7.2 percent to HK$9.93. Swiss bank UBS (UBSN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) rattled investors on Tuesday with news of $19 billion in fresh writedowns [ID:nL01419180] but markets took the view that banks are wiping their books clean of investments tied to the U.S. subprime crisis.
* Refiners and airlines leapt as oil prices stayed off highs, despite oil rising above $101 a barrel on Wednesday, snapping three-straight days of losses triggered by dollar gains and easing supply concerns in Iraq.
Sinopec Corp (0386.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) (600028.SS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Asia's top refiner, soared 6.6 percent to HK$7.26.
Air China (0753.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) climbed 3.7 percent to HK$7.08, China Southern (1055.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) gained 1.6 percent to HK$6.25, China Eastern (0670.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) rose 2.3 percent to HK$4.01 and Hong Kong's dominant carrier Cathay Pacific (0293.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) gained 3.7 percent to HK$16.18.
On Tuesday, U.S. crude CLc1 settled down 60 cents at $100.98 a barrel, adding to losses of more than $4 from Monday when funds locked in commodity profits at the end of the first quarter.
* Property stocks continued to rebound as investors looked for bargains after recent lows.
Hang Lung (0101.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) gained 6.6 percent to HK$29.85. China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd (0688.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) climbed more than 5 percent to HK$15.16 and billionaire Li Ka-shing's property flagship Cheung Kong (0001.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) gained over 4 percent to HK$117.90.
(US$1=HK$7.8) (Reporting by Joseph Chaney; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree)
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