China, HK stocks rise after Chinese securities regulator vows further reforms
Chinese and Hong Kong stocks rose on Thursday, after China's securities watchdog vowed to deepen market reforms and improve the quality of listed companies. ** China's benchmark CSI300...

SHANGHAI, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Chinese and Hong Kong
stocks rose on Thursday, after China's securities watchdog vowed
to deepen market reforms and improve the quality of listed
companies. ** China's benchmark CSI300 index rose 0.6% to
3,854.34 at the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai
Composite Index gained 0.2% to 3,075.81. ** In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index added 2.8% to
19,688.67 points. ** The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC)
said in a statement late on Wednesday that the economy will
recover as strong stimulus policies take effect, boding well for
China's capital markets. ** China is now grappling with a surge in infections after
Beijing dropped its strict zero-COVID policy, but the CSRC said
it's fully confident toward the "bright future" of China's
economy. ** The CSRC will push for an expansion of the mainland-Hong
Kong Stock Connect scheme, implement offshore listing reforms,
and deepen cooperation with Hong Kong's capital markets. ** Earlier in the week, Chinese and Hong Kong securities
regulators said that they have agreed in principle to further
expand the scope of eligible stocks under the mainland-Hong Kong
Stock Connect. ** The Hang Seng Tech Index jumped as much as
5.2%, as investors were encouraged by CSRC's vows to support
private firms and technology platform companies. ** Alibaba Group Holding, Bilibili Inc
and Xpeng Inc all rose sharply. ** The CSRC said it will fast-track greenlighting of the
first offshore listing by a "platform" company under China's new
approval system. ** Property shares also rose, after the CSRC
reiterated its support to the struggling sector.
(Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Rashmi Aich)