China shares rise on news of inclusion of 234 A-shares in MSCI indices

China stocks rose today as investors were cheered after MSCI said it would include 234 Chinese A-shares in the MSCI China Index.

The Shanghai Composite Index ended 0.57 percent higher at 3,192.12 points, while the smaller Shenzhen Composite Index gained 0.72 percent to 10,747.99 points and the Shenzhen-based startup board ChiNext rose 1.48 percent to 1,858.01 points.

Global index provider MSCI said today that the 234 China A-shares will represent aggregate weight of 1.26 percent and 0.39 percent respectively in the MSCI China Index and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

Some of the A-shares to be included in MSCI's indices from June 1 are Kweichow Moutai, banks such as the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, China Construction Bank and Guosen Securities.  

MSCI said any stock that was suspended from trading for over 50 consecutive trading days would not be included in its index.

The MSCI news boosted investor sentiment because it marked a key development in the opening of China’s market to overseas investors, said Chen Guo, chief strategic analyst at Essence Securities.