HK Stocks Edge Down As Trade Talks Open

Hong Kong stocks fell on Thursday as markets awaited the outcome of US-China trade talks under way in Beijing.

The Hang Seng Index shed 0.4 percent, to 28,392 by the break.

Locally listed smartphone component maker Sunny Optical dropped 8.7 percent as a stock exchange filing showed a sharp fall in net profit for last year.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index was almost flat at noon break, down at 0.1 percent, to 2,719, while the Shenzhen Composite Index, gained 0.5 percent, to 1,395.

Tokyo inched up 0.1 percent.

Japanese government data showed the economy expanded in the final quarter of 2018 as the negative impact from a series of natural disasters over the summer receded.

The 0.3 percent expansion was slightly below forecasts, but followed a 0.7 percent contraction in the quarter before. (AFP)

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