Local Stocks Edge Higher At Break

Hong Kong stocks headed into the break with gains on Friday but an early rally was pared by concerns about a lack of progress on a new US stimulus and stuttering talks on a post-Brexit trade deal.

The Hang Seng Index edged up 0.28 percent, or 74 points, to 26,485.

Regional stocks were mixed. Shanghai and Tokyo retreated while Seoul gained.

Investors have been encouraged by progress in developing vaccines. But optimism has been dented by rising infection numbers in the United States and some other markets, which prompted renewed curbs on business.

The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.6 percent to 3,351 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo shed 0.5 percent to 26,612.

The Kospi in Seoul advanced 0.7 percent to 2,765 while Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 was 0.7 percent higher at 6,637.

New Zealand and Singapore also climbed while Jakarta declined. (AP/AFP)