The Hong Kong stock market has finished higher in three straight sessions, advancing more than 630 points or 2.3 percent in that span. The Hang Seng Index now rests just above the 27,600-point plateau, although it's likely to see consolidation on Thursday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is mixed to lower ahead of Friday's U.S. jobs report, although crude oil continues to provide support. The European markets were down and the U.S. bourses were mixed and the Asian markets figure to split the difference.
The Hang Seng finished modestly higher on Wednesday as gains from the financials and properties were capped by weakness from the insurance and oil companies.
For the day, the index collected 67.15 points or 0.24 percent to finish at 27,607.38 after trading between 27,570.50 and 27,747.35.
Among the actives, Ping An Insurance skidded 1.33 percent, while Hang Lung Properties surged 2.46 percent, Galaxy Entertainment tumbled 1.26 percent, Sands China dropped 1.25 percent, China Life retreated 1.17 percent, New World Development climbed 0.76 percent, China Petroleum and Chemical (Sinopec) shed 0.67 percent, Li & Fung added 0.35 percent, CNOOC dipped 0.23 percent, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China collected 0.18 percent, Hong Kong & China Gas perked 0.14 percent and Belle International Holdings was unchanged.
The lead from Wall Street is inconclusive as stocks hovered near the unchanged line before ending on opposite sides of it - although the Dow managed to hit another record close.
The Dow jumped 52.32 points or 0.24 percent to 22,016.24, while the NASDAQ eased 0.29 points or 0.01 percent to 6,362.65 and the S&P added 1.22 points or 0.05 percent to 2,477.57.
Traders seemed reluctant to make significant moves ahead of Friday's monthly jobs report from the Labor Department.
Ahead of that report, payroll processor ADP reported that private sector employment increased by less than expected in July.
Crude oil futures rose Wednesday, holding near $50 a barrel after a smaller-than-expected drop in U.S. oil inventories. WTI light sweet crude oil rose 43 cents or 0.9 percent to $49.59 a barrel. Crude was up 8 percent in July, touching eight-week highs.
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