HONG KONG, March 8 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares rose 1.97 percent on Monday for a second straight session of gains, led by China Construction Bank <0939.HK> (CCB) after China's second-largest lender said it expected its new lending to grow more than 10 percent this year. [ID:nBJB003719]
CCB, extending gains from the previous session, rose 1.8 percent to close at a six-week high of HK$6.21. Exporter Li & Fung <0494.HK> jumped 4.2 percent to a record close at HK$40.90, boosted by hopes of a recovery in the U.S. economy after encouraging retail sales data and lower-than-expected job losses in the United States.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index <.HSI> ended up 408.90 points at 21,196.87, its highest close in six weeks. The China Enterprises Index <.HSCE> of top locally listed mainland Chinese stocks ended up 2.31 percent, its biggest single day of gains in a week, at a six-week closing high at 12,202.80.