Hong Kong shares end 0.30pc higher

HONG KONG: Shares in Hong Kong rose 0.30 percent on Wednesday, boosted by upbeat economic data from the United States and Germany as well as successful bond auctions in Spain and Greece.

Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index gained 59.17 points, to 19,686.92 on turnover of HK$64.52 billion ($8.27 billion).

But Chinese shares closed down 1.39 percent, a day after surging more than four percent.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was down 32.00 points at 2,266.38 on turnover of 80.7 billion yuan ($12.8 billion).

The index rose 4.18 percent Tuesday after data revealed the economy grew 8.9 percent in the fourth quarter last year, slower than in the third quarter, but still exceeding analysts' expectations.