Hong Kong Stocks Look To Extend Rally

Hong Kong stocks rallied in the morning session on Thursday, putting them on course for a sixth straight day of gains, following another strong lead from Wall Street.

The Hang Seng Index added 0.6 percent, to 31,432.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.1 percent, to 3,117, while the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, slipped 0.2 percent, to 1,775.

Tokyo ended the morning session one percent higher. Sydney was 0.8 percent higher and Seoul put on 0.7 percent.

Singapore, Taipei, Wellington, Manila and Jakarta were also sharply higher.

The euro also continued its recovery from last week's Italy-fuelled plunge, with the European Central Bank's top economist said it would discuss winding down its crisis-era stimulus. (AFP)

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