China shares advance for the fifth day running

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged up 9.62 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 2,572.03. The Shenzhen Composite Index for China's smaller second exchange added 0.3 percent to 1,039.02.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, the country's top economic official, said Thursday that policy stability should be the focus for the second half of year.

“That might signal an end of the government's credit-control policies. There probably wouldn't be any harsh measures to come,” said Lin Feng, an investment manager for Sinolink Securities in the western city of Chengdu.

The market lost 21.5 percent this year amid about credit curbs imposed to cool surging housing prices and restrain inflation.

Buying sentiment on the newly listed Agricultural Bank Ltd. sent lenders higher.

Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. gained 2.9 percent to 2.81 yuan following its trading debut last week. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China's biggest commercial lender, climbed by 1.4 percent to 4.32 yuan.

Real estate stocks rose for a third day. Beijing Capital Development Co. gained 3.7 percent to 11.81 yuan and China Vanke Ltd., the country's biggest developer, was up 0.6 percent to 8 yuan.

In currency markets, the yuan weakened to 6.7795 to the U.S. dollar, down from Thursday's close of 6.7791.

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