Hong Kong stocks edged up 6.48 points, or 0.03 percent to close at 21,977.34 on Monday.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index once slid to the day low of 21, 874.42 in the morning. The gauge fluctuated around the 21,950 level during most of the trading hours.

Turnover totaled at 63.91 billion HK dollars (about 8.24 billion U.S. dollars).

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index went down 6.54 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 12,164.65 HK dollars.

Among the four sub-groups, the finance and utilities indices retreated 0.65 percent and 0.83 percent respectively while properties surged 1.45 percent. The Commerce and Industry sub- index rose 0.57 percent.

Heavyweight HSBC went down 0.97 percent to 81.8 HK dollars, dragging the benchmark index down 33 points. China Mobile went up 0.76 percent to 79.4 HK dollars.

Mainland-based lenders fell across the board on information that the government will adjust capital requirements. China Construction Bank slumped 1.46 percent to 6.76 HK dollars. ICBC went down 1.51 percent to 5. 86 HK dollars and Bank of China fell 0.25 percent to 4.07 HK dollars.

Local developers were among the most buoyant on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, led by Sun Hung Kai, which rose 1.41 percent to 122.1 HK dollars as the market is expecting a robust earning report of the company to be released later on the day.

Cheung Kong gained 1.62 percent to 106.7 HK dollars and Henderson Land went up 1.49 percent to 51.05 HK dollars.

For oil shares, Sinopec went up 1.69 percent to 6.63 HK dollars, PetroChina up 0.23 percent to 8.63 HK dollars and CNOOC down 0.41 percent to 14.66 HK dollars. (7.76 HK dollars equal one U.S. dollar)