HK Stocks Gain, Asian Energy Stocks Surge

Hong Kong stocks climbed in the morning session on Friday as traders try to assess talks between China and the United States aimed at averting a trade war.

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.2 percent, to 30,995.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.3 percent to 3,162, while the Shenzhen Composite Index slipped 0.4 percent to 1,815.

Tokyo ended the morning 0.3 percent higher as exporters were lifted by a weaker yen, which is at a four-month low against the US dollar.

Seoul added 0.3 percent but Sydney dipped 0.2 percent and Singapore shed 0.4 percent.

Most other regional stock markets rose as traders keep a cautious eye on high-level China-US trade talks.

Energy firms surged on the back of further gains in oil prices. Higher prices are boosting expectations for fatter profits for global energy giants and Hong Kong-listed PetroChina was among the big gainers, surging more than 4 percent, while CNOOC put on 3 percent.

Inpex climbed 2.5 percent in Tokyo while Santos jumped more than 1 percent in Sydney. (AFP)

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