Hong Kong: Shares rise, helped by gains for casinos

[Shanghai] Hong Kong shares finished higher on Friday, lifted by signs of recovery in overseas markets and a good earnings report from one casino that lifted stocks in that sector.

The Hang Seng Index closed up 0.5 per cent at 23,023.21 points. The China Enterprises Index of the leading offshore Chinese listings in Hong Kong also rose 0.5 per cent.

For the week, the two indices were down 0.3 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively.

Shares of Sands China Ltd, which posted solid third-quarter results, rose 5.3 per cent. Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd gained 4.6 per cent.

Some analysts said they had expect casinos to report better fourth-quarter earnings as they believe the number of visitors travelling to Macau during the mainland's Golden Week was higher than a year earlier. REUTERS