HSI ends up 147 pts at 22,948 midday; T/O at HK$38.4bn

    Hong Kong stocks closed modestly higher on Thursday morning session following the all-time high closing of both the Dow and the S&P 500 indexes overnight. The Hang Seng Index (HSI) opened up 226 points at 23,027. It briefly rose to an intra-day high of 23,076, and then gradually gave back part of its gains.
  The HSI closed the morning up 147 points or 0.6% to 22,948. The H-share index rose 99 points or 1% to 9,929. Turnover increased to HK$38.4 billion from HK$32.9 billion on Wednesday.
  HSBC (00005) put on 1% to HK$65.95 after its ADR rose 2% overnight. But the global bank has not issued London repurchase notice this morning.
  Bank of East Asia (00023) and Kerry Properties (00683) formed a JV company to develop a piece of land in Qianhai. Both BEA and Kerry rose 2% to HK$33.3 and HK$22.2.
  CK Property (01113) yesterday bought back 10.18 million shares for HK$520 million. Nomura rated the stock "buy". It climbed 2% to HK$52.
  AIA (01299) slipped 1% to HK$44.45 on reports that it may stop selling two products to comply with regulatory guidance.
 Yanzhou Coal (01171) soared 6% to HK$5.9 after Credit Suisse's upgrade and target price hike. China Shenhau (01088) and China Coal (01898) also gained 1-2% to HK$16.28 and HK$3.94.
  A China State Council meeting urged the ramp up of 4G network coverage on rural and remote areas. China Unicom (00762) shot up 3% to HK$9.61. China Telecom (00728) and China Mobile (00941) rose 1-2% to HK$3.77 and HK$85.