Hong Kong Stocks Gain, Shanghai Climbs

Hong Kong stocks finished higher on Thursday, with technology shares keeping up momentum despite investor doubts over next week's US-China trade meeting.

The Hang Seng Index closed up 0.3 percent, at 28,594.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.5 percent, to close at 2,937 while the Shenzhen Composite Index ended up 0.6 percent, at 1,572.

Traders had "growing doubts that anything meaningful will come out of next week's US-China face to face between US and Chinese trade delegates as non-trade-related tensions start to flare", said Stephen Innes of Vanguard Markets.

Tokyo closed 0.2 percent higher. Singapore rose 0.4 percent while Seoul was down by the same amount.

Sydney closed up 0.6 percent after Reserve Bank chief Philip Lowe said he would favour further rate cuts to kickstart economic growth.

On currency markets, the pound pared back modest gains on two-year lows after new Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his firmly pro-Brexit cabinet on Wednesday. (AFP)