China stocks close up after Beijing appoints new securities regulator

SHANGHAI, Feb 8 (Reuters) – China shares closed up on Thursday after Beijing appointed a veteran regulator as the new securities watchdog head and policymakers took measures to stabilise the sluggish stock markets. ** China’s blue-chip CSI 300 Index was up 0.6% at market close to log a fourth straight session of rebound, while the Shanghai Composite Index climbed 1.3%. ** For the week, the CSI300 jumped 5.8% and the Shanghai Index advanced 5%, both booking their biggest weekly gain since November 2022. The markets will be closed for the long Lunar New Year holiday from Friday. ** Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, however, lost 1.3%, dragged by a 6.1% decline in Alibaba Group Holding, after the internet giant missed…