China stocks end firmer as investors hope for stepped-up stimulus

BEIJING: China stocks reversed course to close higher on Wednesday, as investors hoped the government would speed up rolling out further fiscal stimulus to shore up an economy that has been hobbled by the coronavirus pandemic.

At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.6% at 2,843.98.

The blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.82%, with its financial sector sub-index ending 0.01% higher, the consumer staples sector up 3.03%, the real estate index up 0.29% and the healthcare sub-index up 2.04%.