HK market opens sharply higher
Hong Kong shares began Thursday with strong gains following a rally on Wall Street as traders welcomed forecast-beating US earnings and a pickup in consumer sentiment. The Hang Seng Index jumped 1.97 percent to 19,537. The Shanghai Composite Index added 0.57 percent to 3,086, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange gained 0.54 percent to 1,980. (AFP)