Hong Kong stocks fall, dented by concern over mainland policies

Vanke Overseas Investment Holding

19/12/2016 08:10

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks slid to 4-1/2 month lows 
on Monday, extending  declines since last week's U.S. rate hike, 
with shares hurt as Beijing signalled a "neutral" monetary 
policy and media reports said mainland insurance firms face 
fresh investment curbs.     
    The benchmark Hang Seng index  .HSI  fell 0.9 percent, to 
21,832.68 points.  
    The Hong Kong China Enterprises Index  .HSCE , which tracks 
Hong Kong-listed Chinese firms, lost more, taking cues from a 
sluggish mainland market that retreated after Beijing signalled 
"prudent and neutral" monetary policy for next year. 
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N1EB3GC 
    The index was down 1.0 percent, to 9,377.43 points. 
    Index heavyweight Bank of China Ltd  3988.HK  lost more than 
1.4 percent at the close, hitting a nearly one-month low. 
    Media reports said that mainlanders would face more curbs 
when buying insurance in Hong Kong. Shares of AIA Group Ltd 
 1299.HK  retreated nearly 1.5 percent. 
    All main sectors in Hong Kong lost ground. 
 
 (Reporting by Jackie Cai and John Ruwitch; Editing by Richard 
Borsuk) 
 ((Jackie.Cai@thomsonreuters.com; +86 021 6104 1775;)) 
 
Keywords: CHINA STOCKS/HONGKONG CLOSE