Hong Kong share prices went up 82.26 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 19,192.91 on Monday with thinner traded volume as investors restrained their strengthen for several upcoming initial public offering (IPO) shares this week.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index opened slightly lower at 19,094. 63 and fluctuated between 19,046.92 and 19,216.54 before closing at 19,192.91.

The four sub-indices were mixed. The Commerce and Industry advanced the most by 0.79 percent to 10,117.26. The Finance gained 0.44 percent to 31,369.29.

The Properties lost 1.08 percent to 22,476.02. The Utilities went down 0.61 percent to 35,334.09.

Market turnover fell to 49.214 billion HK dollars (6.34 billion U.S. dollars), compared with Friday's 63.225 billion HK dollar (8. 12 billion U.S. dollars).

The stocks' gain was led by market heavyweight China Mobile, which rose 1.86 percent to 63.15 HK dollars, contributing to 67.12 points the entire market's advance.

HSBC, the largest stock by market capitalization, inched up 0. 28 percent to 141.8 HK dollars and lifted the entire market by 12. 95 points.

Property sector was weaker ahead of a land auction at the peak scheduled on Tuesday. Cheung Kong fell 0.91 percent to 92.55 HK dollars, Hutchison was down by 0.77 percent to 77.6 HK dollars. SHK Property went down 0.34 percent to 89.35 HK dollars. Sinoland headed down 1.43 percent to 16.56 HK dollars. New World Development was the only property share that gained 1.22 percent to 14.94 HK dollars.

H-shares, or stocks of state-owned companies on China's mainland composing of the China Enterprise Index, rallied the market strengthen by rising 249.21 points to close at 9,238.12.

Eager investors eyeing China's insurance market prospect pushed the country's largest insurer, China Life, up by 10 percent to new record high of 22.7 HK dollars after the company announced its A- share will begin trading at Shanghai Stocks Exchange beginning Jan. 9. Ping An soared 8.8 percent to 35.95 HK dollars. PICC surged 3. 6 percent to 3.41 HK dollars.

Bank of China gained 1.9 percent to 3.84 HK dollars as the lender said it has agreed to buy Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise Private Limited at a price of 965 million U.S. dollars.

Source: Xinhua