HK's AIA Group rises most in 14 months on strong growth in Q1 business value

** Shares of Asia-focussed insurer AIA Group Ltd rise as much as 6.7% to HK$102.60, their highest since April 30

** Stock on course for the best session since March 20, 2020; the fourth most actively traded shares by turnover

** Stock is the biggest percentage gainer in both the benchmark Hang Seng Index and the Hang Seng Finance Index

** AIA Group reported a 25.1% rise in first-quarter new business value on Friday, as it began to recover from business disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in its main markets Hong Kong and China

** The Hang Seng Finance Index climbs 0.5% and the benchmark index rises 2.1%