Stocks on mainland advance

SHANGHAI - Stocks on the Chinese mainland rose for a fourth day in a row on speculation that Shanghai, the nation's financial center, will relax property curbs to prevent slumping home prices from undermining the world's second-biggest economy.

China Vanke Co and Poly Real Estate Group Co led a gauge of property companies to its highest level in three months after the Shanghai Securities News reported the city eased some home purchase restrictions.

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd and Bank of China Ltd slid after the same paper said lending by the four biggest banks may be down from January.