Around the World's Markets: Hong Kong

SHARES CLOSED modestly higher in thin pre-holiday trade. The benchmark Hang Seng share index finished up 70.47 points, or 0.78 per cent, at 9,146.80, with futures-related trading driving the bulk of the buying.

Alex Wong, research manager at OSK Asia Securities, said: "We had a bounce back because of short covering in the futures market."

The Tokyo market was closed yesterday for a public holiday.