HONG KONG, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks rose 1.71
percent to a 14-month closing high on Friday, led by a rebound
in finance shares and with abundant liquidity building investor
confidence in further gains for the market.
China's largest lender ICBC (1398.HK) rose 2.84 percent, and
the country's second-largest lender China Construction Bank
(0939.HK) gained 1.73 percent ahead of the release of its
third-quarter earnings due later Friday.
Chinese insurer China Life (2628.HK) surged 5.74 percent and
PICC (2328.HK) jumped 10.47 percent to a more than two-month
closing high.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index .HSI rose 379.21 points to
end at 22,589.73, its highest close since Aug 1, 2008. The index
rose 3 percent for the week, its third consecutive week of
gains.
The China Enterprises Index .HSCE of top locally listed
mainland Chinese stocks was up 2.75 percent at 13,316.02, its
highest close since June 6, 2008.
(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Chris Lewis)
