HONG KONG (Nikkei Markets) -- Hong Kong shares headed higher on Tuesday, driven by gains for some heavyweights, with appetite for risk assets appearing to improve in the absence of fresh developments related to Middle East tensions.
The Hang Seng Index added 0.5% to 28,367.18 by noon after declining for two days. Internet services company Tencent Holdings rose 2%, and pan-Asia insurer AIA Group added 1%. The two stocks contributed to more than half of the index's gains by points. Mainland property developer Country Garden Holdings advanced 2.3% after it reported a 1.9% increase in December contracted sales.
