China stocks rise

SHANGHAI, Dec 26 (Reuters): China stocks ended firmer on Tuesday, led by financial and real estate firms, though trading was thin as year-end nears.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 25.43 points or 0.78 per cent at 3,305.89.
The blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.31 per cent, with its financial sector sub-index higher by 0.8 per cent, the consumer staples sector down 1.46 per cent, the real estate index up 0.77 per cent and healthcare sub-index down 0.61 per cent.
The smaller Shenzhen index ended up 0.43 per cent and the start-up board ChiNext Composite index was higher by 0.17 per cent.
Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was weaker by 0.19 per cent while Japan's Nikkei index closed down 0.20 per cent.
At 07:11 GMT, the yuan was quoted at 6.5491 per U.S. dollar, 0.13 per cent weaker than the previous close of 6.5408.
The largest per centage gainers in the main Shanghai Composite index were Changchun Gas Co Ltd up 10.06 per cent, followed by Jiangsu Wuzhong Industrial Co Ltd and Yabao Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd, both up by 10.04 per cent.