CITIC International Financial Holdings Ltd rose to the highest in six months in Hong Kong trading as a deadline drew near for the bank's Spanish shareholder to announce a possible stake increase.

CITIC International, controlled by China's biggest state-owned investment company, advanced 3.2 percent to close at HK$5.49, the highest since November 16. According to Bloomberg News, the stock has gained 13 percent this year, compared with a 13-percent decline in the benchmark Hang Seng Index.

The Hong Kong-based company in December extended a deadline for concluding an alliance agreement with Spain's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA to May 31.