Chinese share prices closed higher in the first trading week of 2008, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gaining 100 points over the end of last year to 5,361.57 points on Friday.

The Shanghai Composite Index kept rising for three consecutive days in the first trading week of 2008. On Friday, the index was up 41.71 points, or 0.78 percent, from the previous trading day.

The Shenzhen Component Index on the smaller market rose 211.11 points, or 1.17 percent, to stand at 18,122.4 points on Friday.

The Hushen 300 Index, which accounts for 60 percent of the nation's stock market value, was up 61.62 points, or 1.13 percent, to close at 5,483.65 points on the day.

The combined turnover of the two bourses amounted to 224.48 billion yuan ($30.8 billion), down slightly from the 257.83 billion yuan on Thursday.