Hong Kong Stocks End With More Gains

Hong Kong stocks rose on Tuesday to build on the previous day's gains, with investors looking ahead to the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's March policy meeting.

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.3 percent, or 80 points, to close at 30,157.

Shares of mainland property developers rose as investors cheered a government plan to relax residency curbs in many smaller cities. The move is expected to see more rural residents settling in urban areas.

Country Garden surged 5.7 percent. China Evergrande rallied 3.5 percent.

On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.2 percent, or 5 points, to 3,239. But the Shenzhen Composite Index rose 0.7 percent, or 12 points, to 1,783.

In Japan, the Nikkei Index rose 0.2 percent. Taiwan gained half a percent, and the markets in Singapore and South Korea moved up marginally. (AFP)