Hong Kong, Shenzhen to get stock linkup at an "appropriate time", PM says

China’s Premier Li Keqiang announced Thursday in his annual work report that the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges will be linked up at an “appropriate time”, South China Morning Post reported. A few hours later the Hong Kong bourse revealed a 13% growth in profit as a result of its connection to the Shanghai Stock Exchange in November. Li promised further financial reform on the mainland, and among the measures announced Thursday were free-trade zones in Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian; free-trade agreements with Iceland, Switzerland, South Korea and Australia; and the establishment of small and medium-sized banks by the private sector.