Bull rally on bourses offer better prospects for investors

SHANGHAI: The Shanghai Composite Index completed its biggest annual gain in two years as a stimulus package and record lending drove economic recovery.

The benchmark gauge has rallied 80 percent last year, following 2008's 65 percent slump. The advance trails gains by Brazil and Russia as concern the government would rein in lending sent the Shanghai index plunging 22 percent in August.

The Shanghai Composite yesterday rose 14.54, or 0.5 percent, to 3277.14 at the close, the highest since Dec 14. The CSI 300 Index added 0.5 percent to 3575.68. The markets will be closed today for a holiday.