HONG KONG (May 26): Hong Kong and Shanghai stocks closed higher Thursday, helped by the buying of energy shares as oil prices passed the US$50 a barrel mark.

The Hang Seng Index added 0.14%, or 29.06 points, at 20,397.11.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.26%, or 7.35 points, to 2,822.44, as the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, gained 0.48%, or 8.70 points, to 1,808.93.