Chinese shares up slightly in morning trade

Shanghai – Chinese shares rose slightly in early trade Thursday with property stocks leading the gains on hopes for easing measures, but the upside was limited by worries over the domestic economy, dealers said.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B shares, was up 0.19 percent, or 4.68 points, at 2,411.49.

China has for more than a year sought to control rises in home prices, with measures such as bans on buying second homes, hiking minimum down-payments and introducing property taxes in select cities.

But at the same time, the government has started encouraging first-time buyers with favorable lending policies.