Hong Kong shares climb in half-day trading ahead of Lunar New Year holiday

Hong Kong shares climbed in half-day trading on Monday, led by material stocks, as thin volumes prevailed ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, with mainland markets already closed for a week-long break.

The Hong Kong market will close in the afternoon and will resume trading on Friday.

At the close of trade, the Hang Seng Index .HSI was up 138.82 points, or 0.52%, at 26,705.94. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index .HSCE rose 0.42% to 9,070.32.

The Hang Seng Composite Index, which tracks material stocks .HSCIM, climbed 3.96% earlier in the day.

The Hang Seng energy sub-index .HSCIE jumped 2.2%, the Hang Seng TECH Index .HSTECH rose 0.13%, and the financial sector .HSNF added 0.37%.

The top gainer in the Hang Seng was Zijin Mining 2899.HK, which gained 4.67%, while the biggest loser was HSBC Holdings 0005.HK, with a 1.11% decline.

The top gainers among H-shares were Zijin Mining, followed by China Hongqiao 1378.HK, gaining 3.92% and CNOOC Ltd 0883.HK, up by 3.71%.

The three largest H-share decliners were Yum China 9987.HK, down 4.58%; BeOne Medicines AG 6160.HK, which fell 1.34%; and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp 0981.HK, down 0.64%.

-Reporting by Hong Kong Newsroom; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips/Reuters