HSI ends up 69 pts at 23,374; turnover at HK$50.4bn

    Hong Kong stocks closed firmer on Thursday following the rally of the US equity markets overnight. The Hang Seng Index (HSI) opened up 107 points at 23,412. It briefly soared 195 points to an intra-day high of 23,500. But the index gradually pared its gains in afternoon trade.
  The HSI ended up 69 points or 0.3% to 23,374. The H-share index rose 45 points or 0.5% to 9,686. Turnover reduced slightly to HK$50.4 billion from HK$54.5 billion on Wednesday.
  The northbound quota balance of the "Shanghai-HK Connect" program was RMB12.486 billion, accounting for 96% of the daily allowed quota of RMB13 billion. The southbound quota balance was RMB10.225 billion, accounting for 97.4% of the daily allowed quota of RMB10.5 billion.
  CLP Holdings (00002) edged up 0.6% to HK$78.2 after it declared third interim dividend of HK$0.57, and reported 9-month power sales growth of 0.8%.
  Oil futures rallied overnight, with the US benchmark settling at a 15-month high. Sinopec (00386) edged up 0.9% to HK$5.8. CNOOC (00883) jumped 2.1% to HK$10.68. PetroChina (00857) shot up 3% to HK$5.54. It was the top blue-chip winner today.
  China Life (02628) edged up 0.3% to HK$20.2. Private investment firm Starwood Capital said it sold a stake in a roughly US$2 billion portfolio of US hotels to a group led by China Life.
  HSBC (00005) went ex-dividend today. It ended up 0.9% to HK$58.8. The global banking giant yesterday spent GBP18 million to buy back its own shares in London. Standard Chartered Bank (02888) put on 1.4% to HK$65.15.
  Oil service providers also rose on the back of higher oil prices. Petro-king Oilfield (02178) soared 12% to HK$0.56. China Oilfield Services (02883) ascended 5.4% to HK$7.98.
  Peak Sport's (01968) privatisation proposal was approved at court meeting and extraordinary general meeting. It ended up 2.4% to HK$2.59. The stock will withdraw its listing status from 1 November.