Hong Kong shares close 0.78 percent higher

HONG KONG: Hong Kong stocks rose 0.78 percent on Wednesday, a third straight gain and in line with a broad regional advance, following a rally on Wall Street.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index added 147.66 points to 19,151.94 on turnover of HK$53.26 billion ($6.80 billion).

However, the Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was down 0.42 percent, or 9.69 points, at 2,276.05 on turnover of 74.3 billion yuan ($11.8 billion).

The benchmark index gained more than 5.0 percent over the previous two sessions, boosted by pro-market comments by Premier Wen Jiabao and Guo Shuqing, the head of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.