Hong Kong  - Hong Kong stocks rose by 3.52 per cent Monday as investors reacted positively to a 600 billion-US-dollar economic stimulus package for the Chinese economy announced by Beijing.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index consolidated a 3 per cent rise in share prices on Friday with a 501.2-point rise to close the day at 14,744.63.

In early trading, the market soared by 5.5 per cent to break through the 15,000-point barrier before falling back later in the day. Turnover was 60.7 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.83 billion US dollars).

Analysts said the rise in share prices was due to China's economic stimulus package aimed at helping industries hit by the global slump. Shares in some Chinese companies saw double-digit percentage rises.

Hong Kong stocks have lost more than 25 per cent of their value since September and are among the region's hardest hit by the worldwide financial crisis. (dpa)