After last week's global rout, Asian markets struggled to hold early gains with analysts warning of further volatility across trading markets.
Regulators have approved a long-awaited plan to connect the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges. The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect will allow investors to trade across the border for the first time and is set to begin on 17 November.
Hong Kong's central bank has intervened in financial markets again, weakening the value of its currency after it jumped in value. This follows similar moves on Sunday and pushes the total cost of intervention in the past week to 14.3bn Hong Kong dollars (1.85bn dollars).
Brazilian corporation Vale, the world's biggest iron ore miner, listed on Wednesday at the Hong Kong stock exchange where it traded at a premium to New York's close, as the company looks to raise its profile among Asian investors.