6:00AM New York, 6:00PM Hong Kong - Hong Kong jobless was unchanged at 3.3% in the quarter to June.

Hong Kong market averages traded in the positive territory as financial stocks increased after JP Morgan Chase in the U.S. reported better than expected earnings.

Market Sentiment

In Hong Kong trading Hang Seng Index gained 0.64% or 139.47 at 21,874.29, and the China Enterprises Index of Hong Kong listed mainland shares, or H shares, rose 0.56% or 67.31 at 12,123.88. In Shanghai trading CSI 300 edged up 3.58% or 97.39 at 2,815.46.

Daily turnover on main-board was HK$59.6 billion compared with HK$63.5 billion yesterday.

HK Rate Increase 0.85%

Hong Kong Monetary Authority said yesterday the composite interest rate in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region increased to 0.85% at the end of June from 0.75% at the end of May.

According to the Monetary Authorities, the composite interest rate will continue to be impacted by movement in U.S. interest rates and the global financial market.

HK Jobless Rate At 3.3%

The jobless rate in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was unchanged from the previous quarter ended May at 3.3% in the three months to June. The underemployment rate rose to 1.9% from 1.8% in the review period.

Matthew Cheung Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR government noted that the labor market remains active and the company will remain cautious in the wake of the uncertainties on the global market.

Statistics also show that total employment fell 1,200 to 3,532,500, while the labor force fell 1,900 to 3,653,900 and the number of unemployed persons dropped 600 to 121,500.

However, the number of the underemployed rose 600 to 67,800.

During the month, the Labour Department private sector vacancies increased 24.3% from last year at 51,845 and first six months private sector vacancies jumped 32.4% on the year.

HK Grants License to Industrial Bank of Taiwan

Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced yesterday that it has granted a license to the Industrial Bank of Taiwan effective on July 16 and with that the number of licensed banks in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region rose to 145.

Gainers & Losers

HSBC advanced 2.6% on better than expected earnings from JP Morgan Chase.

Offshore oil producer CNOOC fell 2.8% after oil prices eased by $15 in the past three days.

Property companies also increased. Sun Hung Kai Properties gained 1.7% and Hang Lung Properties increased 4.1%.