SHANGHAI, March 18 (Reuters) - China stocks rose on Monday, boosted by data that showed the country's factory output and retail sales beat expectations in the January-February period, while the securities regulator's latest policy measures also helped.

** China's Shanghai Composite Index and the blue-chip CSI300 Index both gained 0.5% by the midday break.

** Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng was flat, and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index climbed 0.3%.

** Beijing reported industrial output climbed an annual 7% over January and February, while retail sales rose 5.5% on-year. But real estate remained a worry as property investment fell 9% on the year, underlining the case for further policy support.

** Asian shares also firmed as Chinese data surprised on the upside for once, while investors looked to navigate a minefield of central bank meetings this week that could see the end of free money in Japan and a slower glide path for U.S. rate cuts.

** "January-February activity data came in stronger than market expectations," Goldman Sachs said in a note. "We believe China's sequential growth momentum remained solid in Q1 despite notable divergence across sectors. However, to secure the ambitious 'around 5%' growth target this year, more policy easing is still necessary, especially on the demand-side."

** The China Securities Regulatory Commission published a set of rules on Friday that would tighten scrutiny over stock listings, public companies and underwriters, as regulators ramp up efforts to revive investor confidence.

** Shares in information technology, securities brokers and new energy jumped between 1.1% and 1.8%, while automobiles surged 3.5%.

** Tech giants listed in Hong Kong added 0.5%, with social media giant Tencent up 2%.

** The Hang Seng Mainland Properties Index slumped 2.1%, and the CSI 300 Real Estate Index slipped 0.8%, even as data showed that China's fragile housing market opened this year with slower declines in property investment and sales. (Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)