Mainland China stocks end higher on stimulus hopes, Hong Kong largely flat
Updates to the close
SHANGHAI, Aug 15 (Reuters) -Mainland China stocks ended higher on Thursday, buoyed by hopes for more stimulus after a string of disappointing data, while Hong Kong closed largely flat despiteU.S. inflation data reinforcing bets the Federal Reserve will start cutting rates in September.
** Official data showed China's factory output growth slowed and missed expectations in July, adding to indicators that the world's second-largest economy is struggling to kick into a higher gear, even with recent government support.
** "While it is worth monitoring how the rate cuts from July will begin to affect key macro indicators starting from next month's data, we believe that there remains a solid case for further easing later this year," said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING.
** "Weak credit, low inflation, and soft growth should provide plentiful reasons for easing, and if the yuan depreciation pressures wane after U.S. rate cuts kick off, there should be little holding the People's Bank of China (PBOC) back from further cuts."
** At the close, the Shanghai Composite index .SSEC was up 0.94% at 2,877.36 points.
** The blue-chip CSI300 index .CSI300 was up 0.99%, with its financial sector sub-index .CSI300FS higher by 1.36%, the consumer staples sector .CSI000912 up 0.67%, the real estate index .CSI000952 up 1.29% and the healthcare sub-index .CSI300HC up 0.66%.
** The smaller Shenzhen index .SZSC ended up 0.82% and the start-up board ChiNext Composite index .CNT was higher by 0.53%.
** At the close of trade, the Hang Seng index .HSI was down 4.22 points or 0.02% at 17,109.14. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index .HSCE rose 0.17% to 6,035.27.
** The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares .HSCIE rose 0.4%, while the IT sector .HSCIIT dipped 0.85%, the financial sector .HSNF ended 0.48% higher and the property sector dipped 0.08%.
** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index .MIAPJ0000PUS was weaker by 0.13%, while Japan's Nikkei index .N225 closed up 0.78%.
Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Janane Venkatraman
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