Hong Kong - Hong Kong shares soared to their highest levels in four months Tuesday as confidence surged through the market on the city's first day of trading after the Easter holiday. The blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 678.75 points, or 4.55 per cent, in brisk trading to close at 15,580.16, the highest level since early December.

Turnover was 75.4 billion Hong Kong dollars (9.72 billion US dollars), sharply higher than in recent weeks as traders raced to catch up with gains in the US and China markets following the four-day Easter break in Hong Kong.

China stocks performed strongly on the back of positive data about the country's economic prospects and HSBC, the biggest stock on the Hong Kong exchange, continued its recovery with a 9-per-cent rise. (dpa)