Hong Kong shares set history-breaking record

Hong Kong share prices set a history record Monday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index surged 186.86 points, or 1 percent to 18936.55, breaking the previous record of 18,749.69 on Friday.

The Index opened lower at 18,702.25, going up to an all-time high at 18,940.80 during the trading, and closed the day with fresh record for four consecutive trading days since last Wednesday with a turnover of 37.68 billion HK dollars (4.85 billion U.S. dollars).

Despite of the fear of market collapse, experts expected the Hang Seng Index to go up to 19,000 points by the push of hot money pouring in during the past months.

Market heavyweights China Mobile continued to take the lead by going up 3.01 percent to a six-year high at 68.5 HK dollars, while HSBC went up 0.27 percent to 150.3 HK dollars.

Chinese banks performed well with newly listed Industrial and Commercial Bank of China up 0.84 percent to 3.63 HK dollars, Bank of Communications increasing 1.96 percent to 6.25 HK dollars, and China Merchants Bank up 4.28 percent to 13.16 HK dollars.

Source: Xinhua