Hong Kong Stocks Close Above 30,000 Mark

Hong Kong stocks resumed their upward march on Monday as investors returned from the long weekend break to forecast-beating US jobs data that eased worries about the world's top economy.

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.5 percent, or 140 points, to close at 30,077. The index closed above 30,000 for the first time since June.

Shares of drug makers stood out, after Genscript Biotech said its cancer treatment product has been given primary medicines status by the European Medicines Agency. Its shares surged more than 25 percent.

Sino Biopharmaceutical rallied 7 percent and CSPC Pharmaceutical jumped almost 4 percent.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.1 percent, or 1 point, to 3,244, while the Shenzhen Composite Index, was 0.6 percent, or 9 points, down at 1,770.

In Japan, the Nikkei Index fell 0.2 percent. Singapore slipped 0.3 percent. Taiwan rose just under 1 percent and South Korea closed flat. (AFP)