Around the World's Markets: HONG KONG

STOCKS CLOSED slightly higher with blue chips largely in limbo as investors focused on technology stocks instead. The Hang Seng closed up 26.8 points or 0.2 per cent at 13,214.4.

Traders said blue chips were being sidelined ahead of next month's US meeting on rates partly because so many of the index stocks were interest- rate sensitive property and banking stocks. The government's planned sale of a tranche of Hang Seng stocks also contributed.