HONG KONG: Hong Kong stocks have closed down 0.57 per cent as mixed US economic data and volatility in mainland markets dragged on equities.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 138.88 points to 24,375.28 on turnover of HK$67.30 billion ($A11.80 billion) on Thursday.
In banking trades, China Construction Bank fell 0.32 per cent to HK$6.32 and ICBC was flat at HK$5.34.
Bank of China fell 0.48 per cent to $4.19.
China Merchant bank bucked the trend, putting on 2.64 per cent to HK$21.4 by the close, along with HSBC, which rose 0.21 per cent to HK$71.4.
Among other stocks in Hong Kong, Tencent fell 1.05 per cent to HK$140.9 in a second day of losses since reports of a greater police presence in the offices of China’s major online players.
China Mobile shed 0.68 per cent to HK$100.1.
Shanghai stocks closed down 0.89 per cent on Thursday, defying recent government moves to prop up the market, on worries over the weak economy and the effectiveness of the official bail-out.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.89 per cent, or 33.03 points, to 3,661.54 on turnover of 357.5 billion yuan ($A79.53 billion).
The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, eased 0.69 per cent, or 14.77 points, to 2,113.65 on turnover of 349.6 billion yuan.
“Market turnover has waned because some investors have left the market and they are in a wait-and-see mood. It’s unclear now whether there will be more support measures coming,” Haitong Securities analyst Zhang Qi said.
After the Shanghai market peaked in mid-June and then fell 30 per cent in three weeks, the government intervened with a rescue package which includes a crackdown on short-selling, banning major investors in listed companies from selling stock for six months and funding a state-backed company to buy shares.
