MORE foreign-fund buying and an upgrading from Nomura's Nick Knight helped push the Hang Seng Index to close above the 10,000-mark for the first time since March 10.
After slipping earlier in the day, the index rallied late in the second session to close 73.93 points, or 0.7 per cent, higher at 10,035.97.
Volume was lower, at $3.57 billion, which looked unconvincing to some brokers.
However, sentiment is still strong and further gains are expected over the next few weeks, with 10,500 looming as the next major technical barrier.
Brokers described yesterday's buying as instinctual, with clients ringing up and putting in orders for a smattering of blue-chip and quality second-line stocks.
'It was pure, instinctive buying,' said an American trader.