China stocks close higher ahead of plenum policy announcements
Updates to market closing levels
SHANGHAI, July 18 (Reuters) -China stocks closed higher after struggling for direction on Thursday, as investors cautiously awaited policy news from a key leadership gathering in Beijing that is expected to end later in the day.
However, the prospect of escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China, which dragged broader Asian equities down, curbed overall sentiment.
China's CSI 300 Index .CSI300 finished 0.6% higher and the Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC gained 0.5%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index <.HSI> edged up 0.2%.
Investor hopes are high on the final day of the four-day plenum, which seeks to inject confidence into the economy, especially after the second-quarter GDP missed forecasts due to a protracted property-sector downturn and worries about jobs.
However, conflicting goals such as boosting growth while cutting debt may mean little progress toward implementing change.
"It's difficult for the government to launch anything drastic," said Steven Leung, executive director at brokerage UOB Kay Hian in Hong Kong, adding that some sort of support either for the property sector or to drive technology is anticipated.
"I think we are expecting something at least, and so far we've been disappointed and hearing nothing," he said.
Chip stocks in Asia tumbled on Thursday, tracking a heavy selloff on Wall Street spurred by a report that the United States is mulling tighter curbs on exports of advanced semiconductor technology to China.
China's CSI Information Technology Index .CSI000935 lost 0.6%, with semiconductor firms .CSIH30184 down 1.6%.
Other sectors were mixed, with the financial sector sub-index .CSI300FS higher by 0.14%, the consumer staples sector .CSI000912 up 0.07%, the real estate index .CSI000952 up 1.18% and the healthcare sub-index .CSI300HC up 0.95%.
Tech giants listed in Hong Kong .HSTECH lost 0.8%. Market participants are also worried that China will figure heavily in Donald Trump's foreign policy if he wins the U.S. presidential race.
"The 'Trump trade' is heating up. Restarting tariffs may amplify global economic disturbances and boost risk aversion sentiment," said Huatai Securities in a note.
Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Varun H K and Janane Venkatraman
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