A year after sending censors reaching for their cropping scissors, Pamela Anderson’s nearly naked image returns to China on phone card ads telling people not to buy fur.

Share prices closed the morning off their highs, lacking momentum to push the advance further after the Hang Seng index breached key resistance at 10,000 points, dealers said.

Share prices closed the morning sharply lower, tracking losses on Wall Street overnight following weak US economic data and further profit-warnings, dealers said.

Share prices closed the morning slightly higher in tandem with the rise on Wall Street overnight but the market lacked a clear direction in the run-up to the Sept 11 anniversary as well as uncertainty over whether the US would lead a strike against Iraq, dealers said.

Share prices closed a relatively rangebound morning session higher in thin trade, rebounding slightly from yesterday's heavy losses, although investors continued to exercise caution after a volatile session on Wall Street overnight, dealers said.