Hong Kong Stocks Close On A High

Hong Kong stocks closed on a positive note on Tuesday, in line with a broad Asia advance and following a rally on Wall Street, while investors welcomed a surprisingly strong factory activity report out of the mainland.

The Hang Seng Index jumped 1.8 percent, or 428 points, to 23,603.

Turnover was HK$113.3 billion.

It was a good day for energy firms following a rebound in oil prices. PetroChina jumped more than 8 percent and CNOOC rallied 7.4 percent.

Property shares also fared well, with Sino Land adding 7.4 percent and Hang Lung Properties gaining more than 6 percent.

Wharf Real Estate Investment Company and CK Asset each put on more than 4 percent.

Across the border, the Shanghai Composite index edged up 0.1 percent, while the blue-chip CSI-300 index gained 0.3 percent.

Elsewhere in the region, the Kospi in South Korea picked up 2 percent. Taiwan finished 0.8 percent higher. Singapore was 2.7 percent higher. But the Nikkei in Japan dipped nearly 0.9 percent and Australia lost 2 percent. (Additional reporting by AFP)