Hong Kong - Hong Kong stocks continued their positive start to 2009 Monday with a second day of gains, rising by almost 3.5 per cent.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index climbed 520.5 points, or 3.46 per cent, to close at 15,563.31. Turnover was 49.4 billion Hong Kong dollars (6.37 billion US dollars).

Monday's rise followed a 4.55-per-cent surge Friday, the first trading day of the year, representing the biggest one-day jump in share prices for more than one month.

The increasing share prices follow a rally on Wall Street Friday and were led by Hong Kong-listed China shares, particularly China Telecom which rose strongly on expectations of the issuance of 3G licences in China. (dpa)