Hong Kong shares had their best day in two months on Wednesday, with resources shares leading main indexes up more than 3 percent to three-month highs after upbeat China trade data offered fresh signs of economic stability. The Hang Seng index rose 3.2 percent, to 21,158.71, while the China Enterprises Index gained 4.0 percent, to 9,191.49 points.
China's March exports came in higher than forecast, rising 11.5 pct from a year earlier, the first increase since June and the largest rise since February 2015. Imports fell 7.6 percent from a year earlier, less than expected. Reflecting the improving outlook for China's economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday nudged up forecasts for China's growth this year, even as it trimmed the outlook for the world. Energy shares were bullish on Wednesday, with an index tracking the sector surging 5.6 percent to a five-month high, helped by jumps in oil heavyweights including Sinopec , PetroChina and CNOOC. Resources shares were also strong, inspired by a rally in global commodity prices.