China and Hong Kong stocks rose for the first time in three days after official data showed that new lending by mainland banks surged to a record in January and on optimism that the Asian nation and the US are close to clinching a deal to resolve their trade dispute. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.3 per cent, or 33.68 points, to 2,716.06. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 1.4 per cent, or 378.93 points, to 28,279.77. People look at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Shanghai on July 6, 2018. Photo: ReutersPeople look at an electronic board showing stock information at a ... (full story)