Hong Kong shares gain further by noon

Hong Kong extended early gains by noon on Friday.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 197 points, or 0.75 percent, to 26,578.

The Hang Seng Tech Index increased by 1.03 percent to 5,162.

In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite Index went down 0.17 percent to 4,139, and the Shenzhen Component Index fell 0.68 percent to 14,405.