Equities boosted by new suppport measures

SHANGHAI - Stocks on the Chinese mainland rose for a third day on Thursday, the longest stretch of gains in two months. The advance came after the government announced measures to help small companies hurt by the nation's tight monetary policies.

Zhuzhou Times New Material Technology Co and Hainan Expressway Co surged at least 5 percent after the government offered tax breaks and easier access to loans for small and medium-sized enterprises. China Gezhouba Group Co led gains for water companies after the Shanghai Securities News reported that China plans to invest 1.8 trillion yuan ($282 billion) in the industry.

"The government's package of measures may support a rebound," said Li Jun, a strategist at Central China Securities Co in Shanghai. "The recent wave of government moves suggests the worst part of the tightening has passed."