Hong Kong Shares Up, Regional Markets Rise

Hong Kong stocks ended the morning with gains on Friday, recovering from the previous day's losses, on renewed hopes for the China-US trade talks and following better-than-forecast US growth data.

The Hang Seng Index added 0.5 percent, to 28,760 by the break.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.1 percent, to 2,945 while the Shenzhen Composite Index gave up early gains and slipped into red, down 0.1 percent, to 1,544.

Most regional markets were up with Tokyo leading the gains, jumping 0.9 percent by the break thanks to a weaker yen.

Sydney climbed 0.6 percent, Singapore edged up 0.2 percent and Wellington added 0.4 percent with Jakarta. Taipei and Seoul were closed for public holidays.

In forex markets, the dollar held gains against most of its peers after the growth figures were released, though the pound remains supported by easing concerns about a possible no-deal Brexit.

"The market is now moving on the premise that the US-China talks are making progress, and that 'a no-deal Brexit' would be avoided," Resona Bank said in a commentary. (AFP)

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