HK stocks end weaker as U.S. tariff deadline looms

Shenzhou International group

10/12/2019 08:42

SHANGHAI, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares finished lower
on Tuesday as investors waited to see if the United States would
slap fresh tariffs on Chinese goods this weekend, a move that
was likely to complicate efforts to defuse the protracted trade
war.
    
** Sentiment also suffered as data showed China's producer
prices fell for the fifth consecutive month in November, while
consumer prices spiked as food costs climbed, complicating
policymakers' efforts to boost demand as economic growth slows. 
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N28K0IY
        
**  A Chinese official said on Monday that Beijing hopes to make
a trade deal with Washington as soon as possible before new U.S.
tariffs are due to kick in on Dec. 15, but investors are
refraining from making big bets on an interim deal.
        
** The Hang Seng index  .HSI  ended 0.2% lower at 26,436.62,
while the China Enterprises Index  .HSCE  lost 0.1% to 10,395.27
points. 
    
** The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares
 .HSCIE  dipped 0.3%, while the IT sector  .HSCIIT  dropped
0.3%, the financial sector  .HSNF  ended 0.1% lower and the
property sector closed 0.23% weaker.
 
** The top gainer in the Hang Seng was China Overseas Land &
Investment Ltd  0688.HK , which gained 2.52%, while the biggest
loser was Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd  2313.HK ,
which closed 3.51% lower.
 
** China's main Shanghai Composite index  .SSEC  closed up 0.1%
at 2,917.32 points, while the blue-chip CSI300 index  .CSI300 
ended up 0.13%.
 
** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index
 .MIAPJ0000PUS  was weaker by 0.17%, while Japan's Nikkei index
 .N225  closed 0.09% lower.
 
** The yuan  CNY=CFXS  was quoted at 7.0378 per U.S. dollar at
0819 GMT, 0.02% firmer than the previous close of 7.0395. 
 
** The top gainers among H-shares were New China Life Insurance
Co Ltd  1336.HK , which closed 2.61% firmer, followed by China
Tower Corp Ltd  0788.HK , gaining 1.89% and China Taiping
Insurance Holdings Co Ltd  0966.HK , which ended up by 1.86%.
 
** The three biggest H-shares percentage decliners were ANTA
Sports Products Ltd  2020.HK , which ended down 4.33%, Shenzhou
International Group Holdings Ltd  2313.HK , which fell 3.51% and
China Resources Beer Holdings Co Ltd  0291.HK , which closed
1.92% weaker. 

 (Reporting by the Shanghai Newsroom, Editing by Sherry
Jacob-Phillips)
 ((samuel.shen@tr.com))