HSI Finishes Higher For Third Straight Session

Hong Kong stocks rallied more than 1 percent on Tuesday, extending a winning run to three days, on optimism over the corporate earnings season and as China's recent regulatory overhaul shows signs of easing.

The Hang Seng Index jumped 1.49 percent, or 377.46 points, to 25,787.21.

The Shanghai Composite Index added 0.70 percent, or 25.02 points, to 3,593.15, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange rose 0.86 percent, or 20.60 points, to 2,422.64.

Taiwan stocks put on more than 1 percent, while Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Wellington, Manila and Mumbai also saw healthy gains.

However, Sydney, Bangkok and Jakarta slipped.

Investors brushed off reports that North Korea had fired an unidentified projectile into the sea.

While attention was largely on the release of profit reports, traders were also awaiting comments from the US Federal Reserve as it prepares to scale back its vast bond-buying programme with an eye on surging prices. (AFP)