Chinese shares up 0.62pc in morning trade

SHANGHAI: Chinese shares were up 0.62 percent in morning trade Wednesday, the first session of 2012, helped by overnight gains on Wall Street and China's better-than-expected manufacturing data, dealers said.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was up 13.54 points to 2,212.96.

Investors took heart after China's official purchasing managers index rose to 50.3 in December, representing a return to expansion after dipping below 50 in November, data released Sunday showed.