Around the World's Markets: Hong Kong

THE STOCK market rose yesterday on hopes that further interest rate cuts would boost investment and ease companies' debt repayments.

The benchmark Hang Seng index rose 1.5 per cent to 9,927.1. The rally was led by China-related stock after Beijing said that it was cutting interest rates for US dollar deposits, a move which could herald a cut in interest rates to spur economic growth.

The gains were helped by future-related buying ahead of today's expiry of a number of contracts.