Chinese stocks closed slightly higher on Friday, extending gains for the third consecutive day. Shares in the agricultural and real estate sectors led the advance.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed at 2,018.66 points, up 0.86 percent or 17.15 points, after losing as much as 1.23 percent in the afternoon trading session. The smaller Shenzhen Component Index added 148.22 points, or 2.08 percent, to close at 7,279.15.

Gainers outnumbered losers by 766 to 87 in Shanghai and by 693 to 40 in Shenzhen. Combined turnover was up to 120.7 billion yuan (US$17.6 billion), down from Thursday's 179.94 billion yuan.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2008)