Hong Kong Stocks Close The Week With A Gain

Hong Kong stocks finished the week on a positive note on Friday with energy firms soaring on the back of rising oil prices, while investors are keeping tabs on high-level China-US trade talks.

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.3 percent, to 31,047.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index climbed 1.2 percent, to 3193 and the Shenzhen Composite Index advanced 0.3 percent, to 1828.

Most other Asian markets were upbeat. Tokyo closed 0.4 percent higher as exporters were lifted by a weaker yen, which is at a four-month low against the US dollar.

Seoul added 0.5 percent and Wellington put on 0.6 percent but Sydney dipped 0.1 percent and Singapore shed 0.2 percent.

Energy firms surged on the back of further gains in oil prices. That comes on top of continued improvement in the global economy and ongoing unrest across the Middle East.

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 6 percent, while CNOOC put on 3.4 percent. (AFP)