Hong Kong stocks closed higher on Thursday as investors cheered signs of progress towards a trade deal between the world's two largest economies. The Hang Seng index rose 0.4%, to 26,041.93, while the China Enterprises Index gained 0.4%, to 10,212.27. The top gainers among H-shares were China Merchants Bank Co Ltd up 3.77%, followed by Anhui Conch Cement Co Ltd , gaining 3.61% and China Resources Land Ltd, up by 2.34%.

The three biggest H-shares percentage decliners were PetroChina Co Ltd, which was down 1.98%, People's Insurance Company Group of China Ltd, which fell 1.56% and SINOPHARM GROUP CO LTD, down by 1.55%.

Copyright Reuters, 2019