Hong Kong stocks closed higher today. The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended at 24,435.40, up by 135.07 points, or 0.56 percent.
In mainland China, the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index closed at 2,827.28, higher by 1.59 percent. The Shenzhen Stock Exchange Composite Index won 2.22 percent at 1,745.42.
In Hong Kong at midday, index heavyweight Tencent (0700) added 0.97 percent to HK$395.2, AIA (1299) increased by 0.56 percent to HK$72, Ping An Insurance (2318) won 1.51 percent at HK$77.4, and HSBC (0005) advanced by 1.46 percent at HK$41.6. Shares of Alibaba (9988) was up by 2.76 percent to HK$197 in the morning. Meituan Dianping (3690), China's largest food-delivery platform, fell by 1.44 percent at HK$95.85, after a restaurant association in Guangdong alleged that it charged onerous commissions to restaurants during the virus pandemic.
Shares of smartphone suppliers fell in the morning, as China Academy of Information and Communications Technology said mainland smartphone shipments dropped by 23.3 percent in March. AAC Technologies (2018) declined by 3.21 percent at HK$39.15, becoming the biggest loser among blue chips in the morning, and Sunny Optical Technology (2382) shed 2.84 percent to HK$109.3.
