In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index ended up 126 points, or 0.48 percent, at 26,487.
The China enterprises index was up 44 points, or 0.5 percent, at 8,943 while the tech index edged down four points, or 0.08 percent, at 5,061.
Shares of Chinese circuit board maker Victory Giant Technology jumped 60 percent in their Hong Kong debut, after raising HK$20.1 billion in a share sale in the city’s biggest listing in about seven months.
Cathay Pacific aims to raise about HK$2 billion through a one- or two-tranche fixed-rate Hong Kong dollar bond, sources said.
Up north, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended the day up almost three points, or 0.07 percent, at 4,085.
The Shenzhen Component Index was 15 points, or 0.1 percent, higher at 14,982 while the ChiNext was up 11 points, or 0.31 percent, at 3,688.
Coal-related shares led gains, with a sub-index tracking the industry rising 2.54 percent.
China might have to burn more fossil fuels this year as meteorologists forecast a moderate-or-stronger El Nino weather event in the summer and autumn, which could disrupt operations at hydropower stations across the region at a time when fuel supplies from the Middle East are disrupted.
“We see about 5 to 10 percent upside for Chinese equities towards year-end with a few positive developments shaping up; however, near-term volatility remains high,” analysts at Morgan Stanley said in a note this week.
“We also expect the path to remain choppy in the near term with volatility persisting through May to July, given uncertainty around the US-China presidents’ meeting, first-quarter earnings season, IPO shares unlocking as well as the ongoing Middle East situation.”
The gains came after the United States expressed confidence that peace talks with Iran would go ahead in Pakistan this week, and a senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering joining, as the end of a two-week ceasefire loomed.
Hopes for a result from the talks were reflected in other major regional markets, with the Nikkei in Seoul ending 529 points, or 0.89 percent, higher at 59,349 and the Kospi in Seoul ending 169 points, or 2.72 percent, up at 6,388. (Reuters & Xinhua)
