Hong Kong soars as Asia stocks, dollar advance

Hong Kong shares powered ahead again on Thursday, extending the previous day's surge, and most other Asian equities markets were higher while minutes from the US Federal Reserve showed the policy board split on when to hike interest rates.
Wall Street provided a healthy platform for regional investors while the dollar ticked higher.
Hong Kong surged 5.43 percent, Tokyo added 0.65 percent and Seoul put on 0.15 percent, while Sydney was flat and Shanghai dipped 0.19 percent.
Shares in Hong Kong motored for a second day -- after a 3.80 percent run up Wednesday -- as mainland investors capitalise on the Stock Connect scheme with Shanghai that allows them to trade in the southern Chinese city.
While the programme was initially met with scant interest, mainland authorities' decision last month to expand the number of domestic fund-management firms allowed to buy stocks in Hong Kong has seen activity surge.
"The catalyst for the rally in Hong Kong was the allowance by the Chinese securities regulators to have Chinese mutual funds be able to invest in Hong Kong listed companies," Mark Matthews, Singapore-based head of Asia research at Bank Julius Baer & Co., told Bloomberg TV.
On Wednesday traders on both sides of the border for the first time used up their daily quota of deals allowed under the link-up.
Shanghai stocks have been rising for more than a year as retail investors bet -- often using borrowed money -- on authorities loosening monetary policy further to support the world's number two economy.
The central bank has already cut interest rates twice since November, while Premier Li Keqiang last month suggested the government had the weapons to support growth if necessary.
On currency markets the dollar rose to 120.28 yen from 120.14 yen in New York, and well up from 119.91 yen in Tokyo earlier Wednesday, after minutes from the latest Fed meeting were released.
The minutes revealed "several participants" thought conditions were right for a June rate hike, but others did not think the economy was strong enough for such a move until later in the year and "a couple" said 2016 was a better option.
Differences of views within the Fed countered an earlier market conviction that a June hike was now off the table.
"The FOMC minutes show there were a few supporters for a June rate hike," said Naohiro Nomoto, an associate for currency trading at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in New York.
"There seems to be serious talk of a June increase, so there was some dollar buying amid the hawkish tone," he told Bloomberg News
The euro bought $1.0769 and 129.52 yen against $1.0780 and 129.52 yen in US trade.
On Wall Street the Dow added 0.15 percent, the S&P 500 rose 0.27 percent and the Nasdaq gained 0.83 percent.
Oil prices rebounded after a steep fall on Wednesday that came in reaction to another huge rise in US stockpiles and record output in crude kingpin Saudi Arabia.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for May delivery advanced 47 cents to $50.89 a barrel and Brent crude for May added 51 cents to $56.06 in morning trade.
Gold fetched $1,198.98 against $1,210.60 late Wednesday.