Coal shares lead market to 1-month high

The mainland stock market rose 1 percent yesterday to a one-month closing high, led by coal and non-ferrous metals shares while the pharmaceutical sector got a boost from healthcare reforms.

The Shanghai Composite Index ended at 2004.951 points, shrugging off sluggishness earlier in the session that followed widely expected weak readings in key economic data, including a slump in annual GDP growth to 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter from 9 percent in the third.

Turnover in Shanghai A shares was 66.3 billion yuan, down slightly from 68 billion yuan on Wednesday.