HK stocks close at 16-mth high; banks rise

HONG KONG, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks rose 1.73
percent on Monday for a second straight session of gains as
abundant liquidity and expectations of yuan appreciation fuelled
hopes that stocks will rise further, providing a boost to banking
stocks.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 390.35 points at
22,943.98, its highest close since July 24, 2008.

ICBC (1398.HK), China's largest lender, rose to a 25-month
high of HK$6.98 before ending at HK$6.96, up 2.4 percent. China
Construction Bank (0939.HK) gained 3.65 percent to HK$7.39. HSBC
(0005.HK) climbed to as high as HK$97.55, a 13-month high, before
closing at HK$97.10, up 2.64 percent.

Food packaging company CPMC Holdings Ltd (0906.HK) rose to
HK$7.05 on its trading debut, up nearly 31 percent from its issue
price of HK$5.39, before ending at HK$6.11.

The China Enterprises Index of top locally listed mainland
Chinese stocks .HSCE rose 2.15 percent to 13,751.65.
(US$1=HK$7.75)
(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Chris Lewis)