** Shares of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison HKEX:1 climb 1.9% to HK$47.95, their highest point since March 13, and on course a third straight session of gains, if current trend holds
** Stock marks its biggest one-day pct gain since June 3, and is top pct gainer in Hang Seng Composite Index tracking conglomerates (.HSCIC), which is up 1.4%
** Chinese ports operator China Cosco Shipping Corporation is among the firms in talks to participate in a global consortium seeking to buy 43 ports from billionaire Li Ka-shing-owned CK Hutchison, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday
** CK Hutchison and China Cosco Shipping didn't immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment
** The deal has been through weeks of global scrutiny and criticism in China and the U.S. over CK Hutchison's plan to sell the ports to a consortium, previously led by U.S. investment firm BlackRock NYSE:BLK. BlackRock remains part of the group
** Hang Seng Index HSI:HSI slips 0.7%
** YTD, stock up 13.4%