HK stocks gain on US interest rate hopes
Hong Kong shares rallied out of the blocks Thursday as investors returned from a midweek break to news that US inflation had eased in April, fanning hopes for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in the coming months. The Hang Seng Index jumped 0.99 percent to 19,263. The Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.20 percent to 3,126, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on the mainland's second exchange added 0.39 percent to 1,766. (AFP)