AROUND THE WORLD'S MARKETS: HONG KONG

LEADING SHARES were swept upward by continued inflows of foreign money. The Hang Seng closed up 163.15 points or 1.22 per cent at 13,566.74, bringing its gains for the week to 958 points or 7.6 per cent.

While there was no solid news to focus on, money was coming back into the region, encouraged by hopes of Japanese bank restructuring and imminent progress on China's bid to join the World Trade Organisation.