Shares close higher, boosted by airlines

Chinese stocks rose and turnover hit a seven-week high yesterday on hopes that the government's economic stimulus package would boost infrastructure-related industries. Airlines soared on news that major carriers were seeking government aid.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which jumped 13.66 percent last week in response to the announcement of the package, ended yesterday up 2.22 percent at a one-month closing high of 2030.485 points.

Gaining Shanghai stocks outnumbered losers by 885 to 37, while turnover in Shanghai A shares expanded to 89.9 billion yuan from Friday's 87.6 billion yuan.