HK shares open firmer as mainland stocks rise

HONG KONG, March 28 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks rose slightly on Friday, bucking softer overseas markets with strong earnings from several blue-chip companies bolstering the main index.

A rebound in mainland stocks after recent weakness was also potentially supportive for local stocks, brokers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index .HSI opened up 0.38 percent at 22,750.31. The China Enterprises Index of Hong Kong-listed mainland companies .HSCE, or H shares, was up 1.29 percent at 11,981.76 at 0206 GMT.

Mainland Chinese shares, which fell slightly at the open, rebounded with the Shanghai benchmark index .SSEC gaining about 1 percent at one point in the first half hour of trade. The index was up 0.23 percent at 0206 GMT. (Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Edmund Klamann)