Brokerage shares gained big in both mainland and Hong Kong stock markets on Thursday, amid growing expectations of the launch of the long-anticipated Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect program.

Guotai Junan International Holdings Ltd saw its stock surge 8.33 percent on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Thursday. Haitong International Securities Group Ltd jumped 7.85 percent, while CITIC Securities Co Ltd rose 4.23 percent.

The brokers also gained on the mainland side, with securities stocks gaining 0.57 percent on Thursday, despite average overall losses on both the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses.