SHANGHAI: China Shanghai Composite Index and the Hang Seng Index eased on Tuesday, with pharmaceutical and property sectors hit by profit-taking and weak economic data.
The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.3 percent to 2,350.4 points by midday. The CSI300 of the leading Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listings also declined 0.4 percent. Shenzhen Neptunus Bioengineering Co Ltd dropped 4.4 percent and Da An Gene Co Ltd slumped 5.2 percent. China Merchants Property Development Co Ltd declined 2.3 percent and AVIC Real Estate Holding Co Ltd dropped 2.5 percent.
Hong Kong stocks also edged lower as a weak Hong Kong dollar and worries over upcoming talks between the government and pro-democracy protesters hurt sentiment.
By midday, the Hang Seng Index was down 0.3 percent at 23,012.31 points. The China Enterprises Index of the top Chinese listings in Hong Kong dropped 0.3 percent.
Hong Kong shares briefly rose following China’s GDP data before losing steam.