New | Hong Kong stocks end higher but not enough to save worst quarter since 2011

Hong Kong stocks ended higher Wednesday, paring back their losses for July to September, but still logging the worst quarterly performance since 2011.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index advanced 1.41 per cent to 20,846.3, reversing part of a 3 per cent drop in the previous session. The index ended 3.8 per cent lower for September, extending a five-month losing streak. For the third quarter, the index fell 20.6 per cent, dragging the benchmark into negative territory for the year. The performance is the worst quarter for the Hang Seng Index since the July-to-September quarter of 2011,

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, or the H-shares index, rose 1.9 per cent to 9,405.5.

The Shanghai Composite Index rebounded 0.5 per cent to end at 3,052.78, capping the holiday-shortened week with a 1.28 per cent loss, its third successive weekly decline. Wednesday's session was the final day of trade ahead of a seven day "Golden Week" holiday. Markets in China will reopen October 8. The Hong Kong market is closed for a public holiday Thursday and will resume trading Friday.

The Shanghai index ended down 4.8 per cent for September, and 28.6 per cent lower for the third quarter, marking the biggest quarterly decline since 2008.

Among other regional indices, the large-cap CSI300 rose 0.8 per cent to 3,202.95. In Shenzhen, the tech-heavy Shenzhen Composite Index finished up 0.3 per cent at 1,716.78, while the Nasdaq-style ChiNext Index settled 0.76 per cent lower at 2,082.67.