Hong Kong stocks dropped for a fourth day, putting the benchmark on course for its longest decline in two months, as investors digested the fallout of Donald Trump’s re-election and the lack of forceful stimulus from China.
The Hang Seng Index fell 1.1 per cent to 19,637.46 as of 10.30am local time, extending a 5.3 per cent loss over the past three days. The Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 1.9 per cent.
China benchmarks rose. The CSI 300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index both dropped 0.3 per cent.
Geely Auto slumped 5 per cent to HK$13.58, and BYD Electronics fell 3.1 per cent to HK$28.40. Alibaba Group lost 0.6 per cent to HK$90.05, and Tencent Holdings retreated 1 per cent to HK$399.60.
The Hang Seng Index closed below the 20,000-point mark for the first time since September 26 on Tuesday as investors shifted to a defensive mode, anticipating headwinds from Trump’s election victory. The former US president favours higher tariffs, trade protectionism and tax cuts, policies that will heighten geopolitical tensions and stoke inflation.
The outcome of China’s legislative meeting last week also weighed on sentiment, as bond sales to address local-debt issues deflated expectations of measures to boost consumption and employment.
Other major Asian markets all fell. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 1.1 per cent, while South Korea’s Kospi retreated 1.2 per cent and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 1.1 per cent.
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