HONG KONG, Jan 3 (Reuters) – Hong Kong shares had their
biggest one-day loss in six months on Friday as weakness in
global markets, sparked by risk aversion, added to negative
sentiment as investors remained concerned about slower economic
growth in China.
Dragging down Hong Kong were Chinese financial and energy
plays.
The Hang Seng Index closed down 2.2 percent at a
two-week low of 22,817.28 points after its worst day since July
3.
The China Enterprises Index of the top Chinese
listings in Hong Kong fell 2.6 percent to its lowest since
mid-November.
On the week, the indexes fell 1.8 and 3.6 percent,
respectively.
Petro China dropped 3.1 percent to levels not seen
since June, while China Shenhua Energy
tumbled 4.4 percent to its lowest in six months.
Property companies were also weak, with Sino Land
falling 3 percent and Hang Lang Properties dropping
3.9 percent to its lowest in almost two years.
Growth in China’s services industry fell to a four-month low
in December as business expectations dropped, a survey showed,
adding to evidence China’s economy lost steam in late 2013.
Earlier this week, two manufacturing surveys also showed
factory activities slowed in December.
