Hong Kong - Hong Kong stocks shot up by nearly 13 per cent Thursday to record their second double-digit rise of the week as a cut in interest rates boosted confidence in the market.

The blue-chip Hang Seng index gained 1,627.78 points, or 12.82 per cent, to close the day at 14,329.85 after a 50 point overnight cut in interest rates in the US. Turnover was 75.1 billion Hong Kong dollars (9.68 billion US dollars).

Taipei - Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai is negotiating to buy Taiwan's largest newspaper group, the China Times Group, a newspaper said Thursday.

Three parties are seeking to buy the loss-making China Times Group, but Lai's Next Media Group was seen as the likely winner because it is willing to accept a package sale while the other two bidders only want to buy the China Times Group's two profit-making television stations, the Economic Daily News said.

The takeover talks were near completion and Next Media was expected to announce the takeover in early November, the News quoted unnamed industry sources as saying.

Both Next Media and the China Times Group refused to comment on the news report.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong stocks surged by 10 per cent in morning trading Thursday on the back of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts.

The blue-chip Hang Seng index gained 1,283 points closing at 13,986 points at lunchtime as investors took comfort in the Feds move Wednesday to ease the credit crisis by reducing the interest rate by 0.5 per to 1 per cent.

Earlier Thursday, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced it was following the move, cutting its base interest rates by 50 points to 1.5 per cent. Hong Kong's currency is pegged to the US dollar.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong has been named many things: Asia's world city, former British colony, the place where East meets West, and Special Administrative Region of China. 

Now it can lay claim to a new title - Asia's Halloween capital. 

For the first time, Hong Kong is being promoted as the place to celebrate Halloween in Asia. 

In the months leading up to Halloween night, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has ploughed much effort into luring in short-haul tourists form Asia with the promise of Hong Kong-style Halloween tricks and treats. 

Hong Kong - Hong Kong stocks end another day of volatile trading just in positive ground at 0.8 per cent higher Wednesday.

The blue-chip index closed 105 points up at 12,707 on a day which saw the index rise and fall like a rollercoaster.

At one point the index reached over 13,200 only to dip down below 12,400 and then climb back up again. Turnover was 59.2 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.6 billion US dollars).

This week has seen some of the most volatile trading in the last 10 years on the Hong Kong stock market with the index losing a huge 12.7 per cent Monday only to rebound 14.35 per cent Tuesday.