Hong Kong, Shanghai Stocks Markets Rise

Hong Kong stocks gave up its early jitters and gained 0.5 percent by noon break, as investors continued to keep an eye on the latest round of US-China trade talks.

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.5 per cent, to 28,202.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.6 percent, to 2,957.

The Shenzhen Composite Index gained 0.9 per cent, less than a point, to open at 1,588.

Tokyo was 0.7 percent higher at the break, with traders lacking a set of clear trading pegs from a raft of economic data released by the Japanese government before the opening bell.

Sydney was up 0.3 percent at lunch with the ASX200 blue chip index soaring to levels not seen since 2007, before the global financial crisis decimated world markets.

Australian shares have been steadily climbing since January, receiving a boost from lower interest rates and the re-election of the country's ruling conservative government.

Elsewhere in the region, Seoul pared Monday's losses to rise 0.6 percent in the morning, while Taipei was down 0.3 percent. (AFP)

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