Hong Kong Stocks Jump As Regional Markets Rally

Hong Kong shares ended the morning with healthy gains on Thursday as a softer tone on import tariffs from the White House tempered concerns about a global trade war that has fuelled market volatility.

The Hang Seng Index rose 1.4 percent, to 30,631 by the break.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.3 percent to 3,279, and the Shenzhen Composite Index gained 0.5 percent to 1,847.

Most other regional markets were higher, with Tokyo ending the morning session 0.8 percent higher, helped by figures showing the Japanese economy grew at a faster pace than first reported in the final three months of 2017.

Sydney climbed 0.6 percent, while Singapore, Seoul, Wellington and Taipei were also well up.

Oil prices edged up slightly but struggled to claw back the two percent losses suffered Wednesday on the back of a surge in US crude output. The black gold is also facing pressure from concerns over a trade war. (AFP)

______________________________