Shares close 2.55% higher

Chinese shares rebounded strongly on Thursday after two days' weak performance, led by real estate and financial stocks.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index jumped 2.55 percent or 72.44 points, finishing at 2,910.29 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 10,005.99 points, up 2.79 percent, or 271.27 points.

Combined turnover expanded to 116.2 billion yuan ($17 billion) from previous day's 97.16 billion yuan.

Gainers in the Shanghai market outnumbered losers 807 to 17 while two remained unchanged.

China Merchants Bank Co, the nation's biggest dual-currency credit-card issuer, and China Vanke Co led the gain.

The central bank this year ordered lenders to set aside a record amount in reserve to tame inflation after raising interest rates six times in 2007. Inflation climbed to 7.9 percent in the first half of this year, compared with 4.8 percent for all of 2007. The lower oil price continued to fuel oil-related shares and airline carriers today. (Shanghai Securities News)