China's key stock index rose 2.56 percent on Wednesday, moving up for the seventh consecutive trading session after it plunged 8.26 percent on June 4.

Analysts said the shares post strong gains as worries over interest rate hikes in the near future eased after the release of the lower-than-expected consumer price inflation in May on Tuesday.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A- and B-shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, climbed 104.34 points to close at 4,176.48 on turnover of 223.9 billion yuan (US$29.4 billion).

The Shenzhen Component Index on the nation's smaller bourse was up 1.71 percent, or 231.76 points to finish at 13,811.48 on turnover of 122.1 billion yuan (US$16.0 billion).

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2007)