HK stocks end 0.77% higher

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong stocks went up 153.12 points, or 0.77 percent, to close at 20,116.07 on Friday, tracking gains on peripheral markets.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index traded between 20,147.39 and 20, 047.64 during the day's session. Turnover totaled HK$47.4 billion ($6.11 billion), up from Thursday's HK$44.2 billion.

A pedestrian walks past an electronic board showing the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong, South China, Aug 17, 2012. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index surged by 153.12 points, or 0.76 percent, to end at 20,116.07 on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

The China Enterprises Index rose 89.34 points, or 0.29 percent, to end at 9,831.12 points.

Market heavyweight China Mobile dived 3.68 percent to HK$83.65. Banking giant HSBC gained 1.39 percent at HK$69.10. Its local unit Hang Seng Bank edged up 0.63 percent at HK$111.9.

Mainland lenders went up. ICBC, China's largest bank by market value, rose 1.13 percent to close at HK$4.49. CCB, the country's second largest lender by market capitalization, added 0. 75 percent to close at HK$5.39. BOC, one of the "Big Four", moved up 0.67 percent to HK$2.99.

China Life, one of the world's largest life insurers by market value, jumped 1.18 percent at HK$21.45. Another major Chinese insurer Ping An gained 1.26 percent at HK$60.5.

As for local property developers, Sun Hung Kai, HK's largest property developer by market value, added 0.59 percent to close at HK$102.9. Cheung Kong properties, owned by billionaire Li Ka-shing, increased 0.64 percent to HK$110.1. Another major developer Henderson Land rose 1.28 percent at HK$47.6.

PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer gained 1. 23 percent to HK$9.88. Sinopec, China's top refiner, closed 1.6 percent higher at HK$7.53. CNOOC rose 1.96 percent at HK$15.58.