Hong Kong stocks rallied on Wednesday, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index jumping about three percent, or 702 points, to finish at 24,199.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index surged 4.04 percent to 8,084, while the Hang Seng Tech Index soared 4.97 percent to 4,731.

It was a different story on the mainland, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.49 percent to 3,970.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.87 percent lower at 14,939.

Stocks related to computing power leasing, AI server, information security and gold led the gains, while those related to the humanoid robots and lithium mining were among the top decliners.

There were also losses in Tokyo, Sydney and Wellington.

London, Paris and Frankfurt dropped in the morning.

Oil surged after US President Donald Trump said the memorandum of understanding that had provided a framework for the ceasefire with Iran "was over".

Trump was speaking in Ankara at a Nato summit in the Turkish capital after Tehran and Washington traded attacks overnight.

Oil prices rose over five percent to US$78 a barrel while the US dollar jumped and government bond yields rose, reflecting concern among investors about another flare-up in inflation. (Xinhua & Agencies)


Edited by Tony Sabine