HK Stocks Edge Up As Singapore Summit Dominates

Hong Kong stocks headed into the break with gains on Tuesday as traders follow the historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, while also looking ahead to key US and European central bank meetings.

The Hang Seng Index added 0.3 percent, to 31,152.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index raised 0.5 percent, to 3,053, while the Shenzhen Composite Index gained 0.4 percent, to 1,747.

Asian investors were generally cautious a they await key policy meetings at the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank this week.

Stocks fluctuated through the morning and by the break Tokyo was up 0.3 percent, while Sydney rose 0.2 percent. Singapore dipped 0.1 percent and Seoul was marginally lower.

The euro rallied on Monday on the back of comments from new Italian Finance Minister Giovanni Tria ruling out an Italian exit from the single currency. That eased concerns about his populist, Eurosceptic government's intentions regarding the currency bloc.

However, the single currency dropped slightly in Asia, while the pound was also under pressure as British MPs prepare to vote on a string of amendments to key Brexit legislation that could force Prime Minister Theresa May's hand in talks with the European Union. (AFP)

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