CK Hutchison jumps after firm says it wants Chinese co to join bidding for its ports business

** Shares of conglomerate CK Hutchison 0001.HK climb as much as 2.2% to HK$54.60, their highest since June 2022, and on course for a 13th consecutive session of gain

** Co says it wants a major Chinese strategic investor to join the BlackRock-led consortium bidding for its $22.8 billion ports business, after media reported that state-owned China COSCO Shipping Corp aims to join the group

** A 145-day exclusivity period for talks between the parties expired on Sunday

** CK Hutchison says changes to the composition of the consortium and structure of the transaction will be necessary to secure regulatory approval, and that it will allow as much time as needed to achieve that

** The Hang Seng Composite Index tracking conglomerates .HSCIC slips 0.1%, while the Hang Seng Index .HSI gains 0.5%

** YTD, stock up 29.3%