** The CSI300 index rose 1% to 3,729.52 at the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai Composite Index  gained 0.7% to 2,834.85.

** The Hang Seng index added 0.8% to 25,700.43, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index gained 0.7% to 9,974.41.

** China's state planner said on Friday it will roll out a plan to boost disposable income this year and in 2020 to spur consumption as the economy slows.

** On the mainland, the CSI300 consumer staples index  climbed 1.8% by the midday, while the Hang Seng consumer goods index spiked 2.9% in Hong Kong.

** The strong gains also followed a raft of solid earnings reports by leading firms, including Tsingtao Brewery  and Foshan Haitian Flavouring.

** Financials also lent some support, as the country's largest insurer Ping An Insurance (Group) Co of China added more than 2% following stellar profits in the first half.

** However, analysts expressed caution given various uncertainties at this moment.

** The A-share market could continue to be rangebound until any signs of strong positive signals, amid global recession fears and lingering Sino-U.S. trade tensions, Shanxi Securities said in report.

** U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that U.S. and Chinese negotiators were holding "productive" trade talks and expected them to meet in September despite U.S. tariffs on over $125 billion worth of Chinese imports taking effect Sept 1.

** Nonetheless, China on Thursday vowed to counter the latest U.S. tariffs on $300 billion of Chinese goods but called on the United States to meet it halfway on a potential trade deal.

** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index  was firmer by 0.36% while Japan's Nikkei index  was up 0.08%.

** The yuan was quoted at 7.039 per U.S. dollar, 0.08% weaker than the previous close of 7.0333.

** The largest percentage gainers on the main Shanghai Composite index were DuZhe Publishing & Media Co Ltd , up 10.06%, followed by ZheJiang JiHua Group Co Ltd , gaining 10.05% and WPG (Shanghai) Smart Water Public Co Ltd, up by 10.02%.

** The largest percentage losers on the Shanghai index were Changchun Sinoenergy Corp, down 5.11%, followed by Aurora Optoelectronics Co Ltd, losing 4.95% and Beijing Xinwei Technology Group Co Ltd, down by 4.94%.

** The top gainers among H-shares were China Resources Beer Holdings Co Ltd, up 7.15%, followed by CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, gaining 4.85% and Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd, up by 3.8%.

** The three biggest H-shares percentage decliners were Longfor Group Holdings Ltd, which has fallen 2.70%, China Railway Group Ltd, which has lost 1.4% and CRRC Corp Ltd, down by 1.2%.

** As of 04:15 GMT, China's A-shares were trading at a premium of 31.24% over the Hong Kong-listed H-shares.