Hong Kong shares close 1.43% higher

HONG KONG - Hong Kong stocks rose 261.50 points or 1.43 percent, to close at 18,520.53 points on Wednesday, tracking gains on Wall Street overnight and periphery markets after the US reported better-than-expected service sector data.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index traded between 18,521.57 and 18, 320.61 points. Turnover totaled HK$46.09 billion($5.94 billion).