HK shares nudge up in low volume

BEIJING, Apr 17 (Reuters): Hong Kong shares finished slightly higher on Thursday in the lowest trading volume since mid-February, as investors geared up for the Easter holiday.

The Hang Seng Index closed up 0.3 per cent at 22,760.24 and down 1.1 per cent on the week. The China Enterprises Index of the leading offshore Chinese listings in Hong Kong was up 0.4 per cent. Market turnover for the key index was HK$1.04 billion ($134.12 million).

Telecommunications conglomerate PCCW gained 2.3 per cent, after the company said it raised over HK$50 million ($6.45 million) from sales of more than 9 million shares in its subsidiary Pacific Century Premium Development.

But Citic Pacific shares fell 3.1 per cent after details emerged on Wednesday night about the firm's agreement to buy the main operating unit of its parent, state-backed CITIC Group, for $36.5 billion in a stock and cash deal.