Hong Kong shares fall to near 5-week closing low as protests continue

Hengan International

14/11/2019 08:35

* Hang Seng index ends down 0.93%
    * China Enterprises index HSCE falls 0.87%
    * Tencent reports quarterly profit drop, shares fall 
    * HSI financial sector sub-index -0.8%; property sector -1%

    Nov 14 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares fell to their lowest
close in more than a month on Thursday as parts of the city
remained paralysed by a fourth consecutive weekday of protests,
and as a drop in index heavyweight Tencent dragged on the
broader index.
    
** At the close of trade, the Hang Seng index  .HSI  was down
247.77 points, or 0.93%, at 26,323.69, its lowest close since
Oct. 11. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index  .HSCE  fell
0.87% to 10,427.38.
 
** Anti-government protesters paralysed parts of Hong Kong for a
fourth day on Thursday, forcing school closures and blocking
highways and other transport links to disrupt the financial hub
amid a marked escalation of violence.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N27U0NN
 
** The Hang Seng was weighed down by losses in index heavyweight
Tencent Holdings Ltd  0700.HK , which dropped 2.32% after the
gaming and social media company posted a surprise 13% drop in
quarterly profit. A sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking the IT
sector  .HSCIIT  fell 1.68%. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N27T2OO
 
** The falls come despite Alibaba Group  BABA.N  launching the
share sale for its Hong Kong listing on Wednesday, in what is
seen as a boost for the city.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N27T2DL
 
** The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares
 .HSCIE  dipped 1.2%, the financial sector  .HSNF  ended 0.83%
lower and the property sector dipped 1.03%.
 
** The top gainer on the Hang Seng was AAC Technologies Holdings
Inc  2018.HK , which gained 3.71%, while the biggest loser was
Tencent Holdings Ltd  0700.HK , which fell 2.32%.
 
** China's main Shanghai Composite index  .SSEC  closed up 0.16%
at 2,909.87, while the blue-chip CSI300 index  .CSI300  ended up
0.15%.
 
** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index
 .MIAPJ0000PUS  was weaker by 0.27%, while Japan's Nikkei index
 .N225  closed down 0.76%.
 
** The yuan  CNY=CFXS  was quoted at 7.0197 per U.S. dollar at
08:17 GMT, 0.05% firmer than the previous close of 7.023. 
 
** The top gainers among H-shares were Fosun International Ltd
 0656.HK , up 1.52%, followed by CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd
 1093.HK , gaining 1.44%, and Hengan International Group Company
Ltd  1044.HK , up by 0.4%.
 
** The three biggest H-shares percentage decliners were China
Resources Beer Holdings Co Ltd  0291.HK , which was down 2.82%,
Tencent Holdings Ltd  0700.HK , which fell 2.32%, and CITIC Ltd
 0267.HK , down by 2.3%.

 (Reporting by Andrew Galbraith; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
 ((Andrew.Galbraith@tr.com; +86 21 2083 0079; Reuters Messaging:
andrew.galbraith.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net ; Twitter: https://twitter.com/apgalbraith))