Chinese shares edge higher over positive healthcare, consumer data

Chinese stocks recouped earlier losses to end higher on Wednesday, boosted by strength in consumer and healthcare companies. ** The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.3 percent, to 4,085.85, while the Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.1 percent at 3,241.93 points.

** Both indexes had lost ground in early trading amid worries over global economic growth. ** The global economy is slowing more than expected and a sharp downturn could require world leaders to coordinate stimulus measures, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday as it cut its forecast for world economic growth this year.

** Sector performance was mixed for the day, with gains in consumer and healthcare firms offsetting losses in other sectors. ** The CSI300 consumer discretionary index rose 2.4 per cent, while the healthcare index climbed 1.5 per cent.

** "The stock market will continue to maintain its strong momentum for the short term, as expectations improved for economic growth recovery after upbeat factory activity data in March", domestic brokerage Wanlian Securities noted in a report. ** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was firmer by 0.15 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei index closed down 0.53 per cent.

** At 07:15 GMT, the yuan was quoted at 6.7142 per U.S. dollar, 0.03 per cent weaker than the previous close of 6.712. ** The largest percentage gainers in the main Shanghai Composite index were Yueyang Forest & Paper Co Ltd, up 10.1 per cent, followed by Guizhou Changzheng Tiancheng Holding Co Ltd, which rose 10.09 per cent and Jiangsu Lianhuan Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, which added 10.06 per cent.

** The largest percentage losers in the Shanghai index were Pengqi Technology Development Co Ltd, down 10 percent, followed by an 8 percent decline each in Fujian Apex Software Co Ltd and People.cn Co Ltd. ** So far this year, the Shanghai stock index is up 30 per cent and the CSI300 has risen 35.7 per cent, while China's H-share index listed in Hong Kong is up 16.2 per cent. Shanghai stocks have risen 4.89 per cent this month.

** About 38.01 billion shares were traded on the Shanghai exchange, roughly 89.3 per cent of the market's 30-day moving average of 42.55 billion shares a day. The volume in the previous trading session was 36.42 billion. ** As of 07:16 GMT, China's A-shares were trading at a premium of 24.78 per cent over the Hong Kong-listed H-shares.