Hong Kong stocks ended 0.14 percent higher on Tuesday, in their sixth straight gaining session, amid optimism on the outlook for interest rates and corporate earnings.

Hong Kong's blue-chip Hang Seng Index gained 22.48 points at 15,569.91. The index earlier rose as high as 15,638.4, the strongest level since February 2001.

Turnover was at HK$ 38 billion (US$  4.9 billion) compared to HK$ 40.8 billion on Monday.

But China enterprise stocks, also known as H-shares, which had gained 8.9 percent so far this year to Monday's close, fell 0.74 percent to 5,761.62 as investors booked profits.

Market optimism over a slower pace of interest rate rises started when the U.S. Federal Reserve said last week its 1-1/2 year long rate-raising cycle may be nearing an end.

Gold miner Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd., which rose 104 percent last year on strong gold prices, fell 3.68 percent to HK$ 3.925 after gold fell more than $ 3 an ounce on Tuesday.

China's top offshore oil producer CNOOC Ltd. rose 3.7 percent to HK$ 5.60 when it resumed trade on Tuesday. The company said it is to pay $ 2.3 billion for a stake in a Nigerian oil and gas field, its largest-ever overseas acquisition.

Hong Kong Clearing & Exchanges Ltd. rose 1.37 percent to HK$ 36.90, having touched a record high of HK$ 37.35 earlier in the session. Asia's largest listed bourse was boosted by the heavy turnover on the Hang Seng Index and investor optimism over a slew of upcoming initial public offerings, traders said.

Global fashion retailer Esprit Holdings Ltd., which earns the bulk of its revenue in Europe, rose 2.03 percent to HK$62.75 as the U.S. dollar remained within sight of three-month lows against the euro, traders said.

<B>Sophie TAYLOR</B>