Hong Kong stocks rose as JD.com reported the fastest earnings growth in three years while investors are gearing up for results from bellwethers such as Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group Holding.
The Hang Seng Index climbed 1.4 per cent to 23,425.51 as of 10.05am local time. The Hang Seng Tech Index gained 2 per cent.
On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index were both little changed.
E-commerce giant JD.com advanced 3.7 per cent to HK$142 after posting a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in sales in the first quarter. Tencent gained 2 per cent to HK$516 before its earnings release later on Wednesday. Alibaba, which is due to report results on Thursday, added 1 per cent to HK$127.40.
Sentiment also got a lift after US stocks recovered their losses for the year on news that inflation cooled in April and amid optimism that a reduction in trade tensions will improve the growth outlook.
Other major Asian markets were mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.6 per cent, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.1 per cent and South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.7 per cent.
