ZTE's Hong Kong-listed shares rose as much as 6.5 percent by 0700 GMT, outperforming the benchmark Hang Seng that dropped 1.8 percent.

It was not immediately clear why the shares rose.

China's No.2 telecom equipment maker was forced to cease major operations in April after the U.S. slapped it with a supplier ban saying it broke an agreement to discipline executives who conspired to evade U.S. sanctions on Iran and North Korea. ZTE is in the process of getting the ban lifted and announced a new board last week.

(Reporting by Sijia Jiang; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)