China shares end higher on consumer, healthcare boost

** STAR, set up in 2019 to fund China's technical innovation, currently hosts 379 listed companies worth a total of 5.3 trillion yuan ($831.57 billion) in market value. ** The real-estate sub-index jumped 1.45%, reflecting continued volatility among developers' shares amid ongoing investor concerns over debt and liquidity risks in the sector.

Chinese shares ended higher on Monday, lifted by gains in consumer and healthcare firms, while Shanghai's tech-focussed STAR Market rebounded as investors latched on to expectations of deeper reforms and improved liquidity.

** At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.39% at 3,593.52. ** The blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.45%, the consumer staples sector rose 0.88% and the healthcare sub-index climbed 1.08%.

** Shanghai's STAR Market ended 0.98% higher, climbing from near eight-month lows, after China's securities regulator said it would pilot market-making on the Nasdaq-style market. ** STAR, set up in 2019 to fund China's technical innovation, currently hosts 379 listed companies worth a total of 5.3 trillion yuan ($831.57 billion) in market value.

** The real-estate sub-index jumped 1.45%, reflecting continued volatility among developers' shares amid ongoing investor concerns over debt and liquidity risks in the sector. ** Developer Shimao Group Holdings has put all of its real-estate projects on sale, including both residential and commercial properties, as the cash-strapped Chinese property developer accelerates asset disposals, Caixin reported.

** Shimao Group unit Shanghai Shimao rose by the 10% daily limit on Monday. ** Shares in China Life Insurance Co fell 1.74% in Shanghai after China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said it had placed the company's Chairman Wang Bin under investigation.

** The smaller Shenzhen index ended 0.44% higher and the start-up board ChiNext Composite index was flat. ** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was firmer by 0.58%, while Japan's Nikkei index edged down 0.03%.

** At 0700 GMT, the yuan was quoted at 6.3724 per U.S. dollar, 0.07% firmer than the previous close of 6.377.