Equities reverse loss on data

Technology, healthcare firms in demand as sentiment improves

Share prices rose for the fifth time in six days on Wednesday, led by technology and healthcare companies, as accelerating retail sales signaled headway in government efforts to reorient its manufacturing-dominated economy toward consumption and services.

The Shanghai Composite Index erased losses in the last 10 minutes of trading, adding 0.3 percent to 3,650.25 points at the close. Wangsu Science & Technology Co Ltd and Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co Ltd surged at least 4.9 percent to pace gains for technology and drug companies.