Hong Kong Joins Asian Retreat Over Syrian Attack

Hong Kong stocks fell with most other Asian markets on Monday as investors try to assess the impact of US-led strikes against Syria, while they await the release of the economics growth data from the mainland later in the week.

The Hang Seng Index shed 1.5 percent, to sit at 30,355 by the break.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index shed 1.5 percent to 3,111 while the Shenzhen Composite Index lost 0.7 percent to 1,822.

Most Asian markets fell as Syrian situation fuelled fresh geopolitical concerns over the tinderbox Middle East, though analysts said investors were hopeful the crisis would not escalate.

However, Tokyo ended the morning session in positive territory, while Sydney edged up 0.4 percent.

Singapore fell 0.4 percent and Seoul was off 0.1 percent, while Wellington and Taipei also fell.

"The markets are taking the surgical strike at the heart of Syria's chemical weapon programme in their stride as traders had priced in this outcome with a high degree of probability," Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA, said in a note. (AFP)

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