Hong Kong shares end higher on strong US jobs data

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong shares finished higher on Monday after a strong US labour report buoyed global stocks and muted China inflation data boosted expectations for further economic stimulus in the mainland.

In the US, employers added a seasonally adjusted 287,000 jobs in June a Friday report showed, much stronger-than-expected and easing fears about a major slowdown in the US economy.

China's annual inflation rate in June was 1.9 per cent, the lowest level since January, according to figures released over the weekend.

The Hang Seng index rose 1.5 per cent, to 20,880.50, while the China Enterprises Index gained 2.0 per cent, to 8,703.00 points.

Total trading volume of companies included in the HSI index was 2.1 billion shares.

REUTERS