HONG KONG: Hong Kong shares closed Friday on the front foot as Asian markets tracked a rally on Wall Street despite disappointing US inflation data that cemented expectations for another big interest rate hike.

The Hang Seng Index rose 1.21 percent, or 198.58 points, to 16,587.69.

Hong Kong stocks close with more losses

The Shanghai Composite Index climbed 1.84 percent, or 55.63 points, to 3,071.99, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China’s second exchange jumped 2.59 percent, or 50.06 points, to 1,984.33.