Inflation figure cheers market
18/5/2005 15:55
Shanghai Daily news
Locally traded shares rose yesterday after a government report said consumer
prices climbed the slowest in 18 months in April, easing concern over a possible
interest hike. Consumer-related chips paced the jump after the nation's
retail sales advanced last month. The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers
yuan-denominated A shares and foreign-currency B shares, added 0.38 percent to
1,099.64. The A-share Index edged 0.37 percent higher to 1,154.13 and the
B-share Index leapt 1.53 percent to 69.61. "Pressure is easing on the central
bank to raise key interest rates," analysts at Guojin Investment Consulting Co
said in a daily note. China's consumer price index added 1.8 percent from a
year earlier last month, the smallest gain since October 2003, when it also
moved up 1.8 percent, the nation's statistics bureau said. Grain prices fell
1.7 percent and clothing prices dipped 2.4 percent on a yearly basis in
April. Tsingtao Brewery Co, China's biggest brewery by output, gained 1.11
percent to 9.10 yuan. Shanghai Brilliance Group Co, the country's biggest listed
retailer, soared 1.32 percent to 5.39 yuan. Baoshan Iron & Steel Co, the
listed unit of China's biggest steelmaker, added 0.21 percent to 4.85
yuan. Elsewhere, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co, China's
third-largest airport operator, fell 2.65 percent to 6.61
yuan.
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