China stocks end higher; consumer, real estate shares lend support

SHANGHAI, - China stocks ended higher on Monday, aided by a rebound in consumer and real estate shares.

However, gains were capped as worries over credit risks persisted and as investors watched the development of China-US trade talks.


The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 1.0 per cent to 3,807.58, while the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.5 per cent to 3,091.19.

China's debt crackdown is a key risk to the country's economic growth and will have significant knock-on effects for the global economy, particularly emerging markets with high commodity dependence or close Chinese trade links, Fitch Ratings said.

Eyes were also on the development of China-US trade talks.

China warned the United States on Sunday that any agreement reached on trade and business between the two countries will be void if Washington implements tariffs and other trade measures, as the two ended their latest round of talks in Beijing.

For the day, consumer and real estate sectors led the advances, rising 3.3 per cent and 3.5 per cent, respectively.

Bucking a broad rally, shares of film and TV makers slumped, as Beijing launches tax evasion probe into the industries, with an index tracking major media firms closing at a near four-year low on Monday.

Solar power shares were also dumped as Beijing cuts subsidy.

Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was firmer by 1.15 per cent while Japan's Nikkei index closed up 1.37 per cent.

At 07:02 GMT, the yuan was quoted at 6.4182 per US dollar, 0.02 per cent firmer than the previous close of 6.4195.

The largest per centage gainers in the main Shanghai Composite index were Fuda Alloy Materials Co Ltd up 10.01 per cent, followed by Qingdao Tianhua Institute of Chemistry Engineering Co Ltd gaining 10 per cent and Guangdong Champion Asia Electronics Co Ltd up by 9.99 per cent.

The largest per centage losses in the Shanghai index were Aurora Optoelectronics Co Ltd down 10.08 per cent, followed by Chengtun Mining Group Co Ltd losing 10.02 per cent and Tongwei Co Ltd down by 10.02 per cent.

So far this year, the Shanghai stock index is down 6.5 per cent, the CSI300 has fallen 5.5 per cent while China's H-share index listed in Hong Kong is up 4.5 per cent. Shanghai stocks have declined 0.14 per cent this month.

As of 07:03 GMT, China's A-shares were trading at a premium of 18.12 per cent over the Hong Kong-listed H-shares.