China, Hong Kong stocks lift Asian equities; growth worries loom

Asian equities rose on Thursday, propped up by Hong Kong and China stocks amid growing optimism over an easing of COVID restrictions in the world's second biggest economy even as fears of a slowdown and worries over Fed interest rate rises linger, Qazet.az reports.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS)was up 0.57%, on track to snap a two-day losing streak.

China's stock market (.SSEC) was 0.14% higher, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (.HSI) surging nearly 3% after a pro-China newspaper reported that Hong Kong government is considering relaxing its COVID-19 curbs further.