HSI ends up 107 pts at 27,154; turnover at HK$81.9bn

    HK stocks closed modestly higher on Monday despite the 76-point drop of the Dow on Friday due to personnel change in the White House. The benchmark index opened up 53 points to 27,100. It briefly rose 173 points to an intra-day high of 27,221.
  The Hang Seng Index ended up 107 points or 0.4% to 27,154. The H-share index rose 57 points or 0.5% to 10,751. Turnover decreased slightly to HK$81.88 billion from HK$84.5 billion on Friday.
  The northbound quota balance of the "Shanghai-HK Connect" program was RMB13.157 billion, surpassing the daily allowed quota of RMB13 billion. It implied a net outflow of RMB157 million. The southbound quota balance was RMB9.699 billion, accounting for 92.4% of the daily allowed quota of RMB10.5 billion.
  As for the Shenzhen-HK Connect, the northbound quota balance was RMB12.565 billion, accounting for 96.7% of the daily allowed quota of RMB13 billion. It meant a net outflow of RMB1.011 billion. The southbound quota balance was RMB10.068 billion, accounting for 95.9% of the daily allowed quota of RMB10.5 billion.
  Ping An (02318) edged up 0.7% to HK$69.65. The insurer reported its interim earnings on Thursday. Both Macquarie Research and BOCI raised their respective target prices for the insurer.
  China Unicom (00762) surged 3.5% to HK$12.36 after the China Securities Regulatory Commission approved the company's proposed mixed ownership reform.  
  Lenovo (00992) slipped 2.6% to HK$4.44 becoming the worst blue-chip loser today. BOCI maintained its "sell" rating on the PC maker with a lower target price of HK$3.3.
  Oil majors were higher as oil prices soared more than 3% on Friday due mainly to the reduced number of drills in the US and talks of the shutdown of a refining plant in Texas. CNOOC (00883) put on 3.7% to HK$9. Sinopec (00386) added 1.6% to HK$5.69. PetroChina (00857) gained 1.5% to HK$4.86.
  Macau gaming counters were generally softer. Galaxy Entertainment (00027) edged down 0.8% to HK$47.3. SJM Holdings (00880) dipped 2.2% to HK$6.79.