Hong Kong Stocks Give Early Gains, Shanghai Up

Shares ended on Thursday morning with slight losses as traders fret over a lack of progress by US lawmakers in their stimulus talks.

The Hang Seng Index dipped 0.1 percent, to 25,213.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.3 percent, to 3,330 while the Shenzhen Composite Index was flat, at 2,214.

Tokyo rose 1.9 percent as a recent drop in the safe-haven yen boosted exporters.

Seoul, Taipei and Singapore were all 0.7 percent higher, while Manila, Jakarta and Wellington also pushed ahead.

"The main force that’s been driving markets the last few weeks has really been momentum," said Kevin Caron, at Washington Crossing.

"We've got a market that's focused on the good case outcome for the virus, we've got a market that has taken a great deal of comfort in that fiscal policy is going to be there to support an economy through tough times." (AFP)

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