HSI ends up 424 points at 30,708; turnover at HK$114.9bn

    HK stocks closed sharply higher on Thursday despite the reversal of the Dow to a softer close overnight. The benchmark index opened up 248 points to 30,532. It rose as much as 477 points to an intra-day high of 30,761 at one stage.
  The Hang Seng Index ended up 424 points or 1.4% to 30,708. The H-share index rose 253 points or 2.1% to 12,239. Turnover decreased to HK$114.9 billion from HK$117.6 billion on Wednesday.
  HKD/USD has touched the weak side of the undertaking several times this week, triggering the HKMA's intervention, buying a total of HK$128.52 billion HKD. Today the rate rebounded a bit and saw a 1-month high of 7.8441.
  Among the 50 blue chips, 44 rose and five fell, with one stock remaining steady.
  Oil majors were higher as oil prices soared nearly 3% overnight on falling US crude inventory. Sinopec (00386) jumped 2.7% to HK$7.7. PetroChina (00857) soared 5.7% to HK$5.94. CNOOC (00883) gained 4.4% to HK$13.24.
  Chalco (02600) surged 7.7% to HK$5.15 after Aluminium futures rose 5.49% or US$132 to US$2,537 in London market overnight. RUSAL (00486) soared 26% to HK$1.79.
  Consumer staples saw buying interest. WH Group (00288) soared 5.9% to HK$8.46 ahead of its earnings report on 24 April. Hengan International (01044) gained 1.8% to HK$76.55. China Mengniu Dairy (02319) rose 3.5% to HK$27.95. China Resources Beer (00291) added 1.2% to HK$35.15.
  Automakers showed a rebound after yesterday's plunge. Brilliance China Automotive (01114) shot up 8.8% to HK$14.04. BAIC Motor (01958) bounced 5.6% to HK$8.47. GAC Group (02238) added 5.4% to HK$13.6.