Broad shares rally for banks.

(From The Standard)

Byline: Foster Wong

Banking stocks rallied across the board yesterday as lenders geared for a rebound on the back of the improved economic outlook.

The Hang Seng finance sub-index soared 318.1 points or 1.31 per cent to 24,545.11, outperforming the benchmark Hang Seng Index that advanced 0.85 per cent to a two-year high of 12,250.69.

Analysts said the expected pick-up in loan demand and improved asset quality would boost banks' earnings this year as well as next.

``The upbeat public sentiment, beefed up by government policies, has stimulated property demand, which re-heats the dwindling mortgage market,'' Sun …