Shanghai shares close slightly higher; B-shares off record highs

SHANGHAI (AFX-ASIA) - A-share prices closed slightly higher as institution-led gains in key large-cap stocks offset declines in other shares, dealers said.	    B-share prices also closed slightly higher, after rising close to their record high at 140.85 points in intraday trade, while turnover remained strong amid continued strong domestic buying and heavy profit-taking, they said.	    Analysts said A-share investor sentiment was steady amid rumours that government funds are being injected into key large-cap shares in order to shore up the A-share and composite indices.	    However, retail buying of A-shares remained light amid a lack of positive leads, they said.	    News that loss-making B-share firm Shanghai Narcissus has failed to complete a planned asset restructure and could face delisting within six months appeared to have little impact on B-share investor sentiment, they added.	    Although poor quality and loss-making B-share companies have been among the strongest B-share gainers in the past three weeks, demand for these shares remains strong amid hopes that all B-share prices will continue to converge with their A-share counterparts, they said.	    There are also hopes that the threat of delisting will put local governments under greater pressure to inject good quality assets into their loss-making firms, they said.	    The A-share index was up 9.58 points or 0.44 pct to 2,148.44 on turnover of 9.42 bln yuan after trading between 2,148.61 and 2,139.60.	    The B-share index closed 0.78 points or 0.56 pct higher at 138.21 after trading between 140.19 and 136.26.	    The composite A and B-share index closed 9.17 points or 0.45 pct higher at 2,045.79 on turnover of 11.81 bln yuan after trading to a high of 2,045.94 and a low of 2,037.17.	    The SSE-30 index rose 18.04 points to 3,932.47.

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