Consumer stocks spring to fore in Festival run-up

With the Feb 16 Chinese Spring Festival days away, shares of holiday-related companies (like producers of foods, beverage and home appliances), travel firms and financial service providers are finding favor with investors.

The positive sentiment toward such stocks is arising from the Chinese economy's transition to a consumption-led growth model, blogged Ren Zeping, chief economist of the Evergrande Group, China's second-largest property developer by sales.

"Consumer stocks have shown positive signals this year so far," said Wu Wenjie, a senior analyst at Bohai Security's Wangjing branch. "Among them, leading shares such as Wuliangye and Midea reached record highs. As these stocks are linked to people's lives, and with corporate annual reports around the corner, the surging prices of consumer stocks would attract a huge amount of public attention."