Chinese equities edged up Thursday after two days of losses, led by electronics and information technology companies, as investors bet a government technology stimulus plan announced Wednesday night would lift sector profits, analysts said.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.78 percent, or 17.26 points, to 2,227.13. The Shenzhen Component Index rose by a bigger 1.61 percent, or 130.4 points, to 8,213.9.

Combined turnover was 170.65 billion yuan (US$24.95 billion), down further from 210 billion yuan Wednesday and 258.5 billion yuan Tuesday.

Gainers outnumbered losers by 694 to 173 in Shanghai and 658 to 101 in Shenzhen.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2009)