HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s stock market has edged down 0.22 per cent in the first few minutes, taking a breather after a week that saw it rack up almost 15 per cent in a nine-session winning streak.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index eased 61.53 points to 27,557.29 at the start on Thursday.
In mainland China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.28 per cent, or 52.45 points, to 4,031.71.
The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, lost 1.97 per cent, or 41.39 points, to 2,060.26.
Earlier, Tokyo stocks opened flat while the yen held up on mostly lacklustre US economic data.
The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 0.04 per cent, or 7.28 points, at 19,862.48 at the start of trade.
The US dollar stayed weak early on Thursday after falling on worse-than-expected US industrial production data, which came after a disappointing retail sales report earlier in the week.
The greenback was 119.13 yen early Thursday compared with 119.14 yen in New York late Wednesday.
The euro inched down to $US1.0676 and 127.17 yen from $US1.0684 and 127.29 yen in US trade.
