Hong Kong, Shanghai stocks soar

HONG KONG: Hong Kong and Shanghai shares leapt Thursday following coordinated action by six central banks to boost financial market liquidity and China's cut in the amount of cash banks must hold in reserve.

Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index soared 5.63 percent, or 1,012.91 points, to 19,002.26 on turnover of HK$97.15 billion ($12.50 billion).

And the Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, gained 2.29 percent, or 53.45 points, to 2,386.86 on turnover of 95.2 billion yuan ($15.0 billion).