Shares boosted by catering and tourism counters

Shanghai shares closed higher today, buoyed by catering and tourism counters with the approach of the National Day holiday and the Mid-autumn Festival.

The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.37 percent to end at 3,379.58 points today — a fresh 20-month high.

The catering and tourism sector rose 4.32 percent, as investors pursued these counters amid the coming holidays. Hna-Caissa Travel Group Co Ltd surged by the  daily limit of 10 percent to 15.16 yuan, and Yunnan Tourism Co Ltd climbed 9.99 percent to 10.24 yuan.

Information technology companies were also among gainers, with the sector up 2.10 percent. Several information technology companies such as Yonyou Network Technology Co Ltd, GuoChuang Software Co Ltd and the Winner Information Technology Co Inc all surged the by maximum limit of 10 percent.

Non-ferrous metal shares gained as well, with Shaanxi Ligeance Mineral Resourcs Co Ltd advancing 9.99 percent to 23.34 yuan.

Ping An Bank Co Ltd rose 4.55 percent and Bank of Ningbo Co Ltd added 2.62 percent.