Hong Kong stocks open higher before budget release

Hong Kong shares opened higher on Wednesday before the announcement of the Budget 2026-27.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 154 points, or 0.6 percent, to 26,745.

The Hang Seng Tech Index increased by 0.9 percent to 5,316.

Major tech names rallied, with Alibaba (9988), Meituan (3690), and NetEase (9999) advancing 1.2 percent, 1.2 percent, and 1.5 percent, respectively.

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (0981) and Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347) both opened 1.7 percent higher.

HSBC (0005) inched up 0.4 percent at the opening before reporting its full-year performance on the same day.