Mainland shares gain in Hong Kong

Chinese mainland stocks in Hong Kong rose on Thursday, led by financial companies, as improving manufacturing data boosted confidence in the nation’s economy. Macao casino operators climbed after gambling revenue in the city increased.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 0.7 percent at the close, erasing an earlier loss of 0.7 percent. China Merchants Bank Co rallied to the highest level since November. The nation’s official factory gauge unexpectedly climbed last month to the highest level in almost two years. Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd jumped the most since March after a slump in Macao’s gambling revenue came to an end in August. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.7 percent to a three-week low.

The manufacturing data extended a rally that made the H-share gauge the world’s best performer in August. Chinese stocks have come under pressure in recent days on concern the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this year, boosting borrowing costs and weakening the yuan. US jobs data due on Friday could provide clues as to whether that policy tightening will come sooner rather than later, while investors are also awaiting the Group of 20 meeting in China this weekend.

“The PMI data were positive for China’s risky assets,” said Tim Condon, head of Asian research at ING Groep NV in Singapore. Even so, investors are “cautious about a September rate hike and tomorrow’s payrolls report could push the Fed to follow through.”

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose to 9,606.08. The gauge’s 6.5 percent gain last month masked recent weakness, with the measure of Chinese companies traded in HongKong rising on only three of the previous 12 days. The Hang Seng Index added 0.8 percent as HSBC Holdings Plc advanced to the highest level since January.

China’s manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 50.4 in August from July’s 49.9, beating the 49.8 median estimate in a survey of economists surveyed. A PMI by Caixin Media and Markit Economics fell to 50 from 50.6 in July.