TERRITORY buy orders gave support to the Hang Seng Index futures which closed the day at 9,255 points, widening the premium to 66 points.
Despite continuing and sizeable activity on Wall Street last Friday, the local market lost its upward movement on strong overseas profit taking yesterday morning.
This dragged the May future straight down from the day's high of 9,340 to 9,200, Jardine Fleming said, adding that local buying occurred at this level to end the morning at 9,240, a 37-point premium.
Sentiment weakened in the afternoon as retail sellers joined in to send the May future down to 9,135, but Hong Kong buying moved it up at the close.
Brokers said the premium over the cash market had narrowed to 66 points, compared with the previous 103 points premium.
They said the consolidation of the market had resulted in activity yesterday.