· Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index plunges nearly 2% as Chinese real estate shares fall
Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Friday as shares in Hong Kong led losses among the region’s major markets.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 1.7% as of its final hour of trading. Mainland Chinese stocks closed lower, with the Shanghai composite down 1% to 3,491.57 while the Shenzhen component shed 0.637% to 14,462.62.
Shares of Chinese property developers in Hong Kong fell. China Evergrande Group slipped 2.97% while China Vanke dropped 2.2% and Sunac China Holdings plunged nearly 7%. The Hang Seng Properties index dipped 0.96%.
Trading in Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese property developer Kaisa Group and several of its units was suspended on Friday, according to exchange notices.
· Mixed Asia-Pacific markets
Elsewhere, Asia-Pacific stocks were mixed as South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.47% to close at 2,969.27. Shares in Japan also declined on the day as the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.61% to 29,611.57 and the Topix index shed 0.69% to 2,041.42.
The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia gained 0.39% to close at 7,456.90 while Taiwan’s Taiex jumped 1.28% to finish the trading day at 17,296.90.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan declined 0.35%.
· European markets muted as investors digest central bank decisions, earnings
European markets were little changed on Friday as investors assess corporate earnings reports and the latest policy decisions from major central banks.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 slipped 0.1% below the flatline in early trade, with oil and gas stocks shedding 0.7% to lead losses while travel and leisure stocks added 0.2%
Reference: CNBC,Reuters
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