Equities edge up led by drugmakers

Chinese stocks rose for a fifth day, led by financial and healthcare companies, after the government raised the amount foreign funds can invest in equities and boosted orders for swine-flu vaccines.

China Everbright Securities Co added 1.8 percent and China CITIC Bank Corp gained 4.2 percent. Hualan Biological Engineering Inc jumped the daily 10 percent limit after the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ordered shots that immunize against the H1N1 virus.

The Shanghai Composite Index rose by 19.51 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,881.12 at the close, capping a five-day, 8 percent gain. It is still down 17 percent from its Aug 4 peak on concern banks will be forced to rein in lending, derailing an economic recovery.