Hong Kong, Shanghai Stocks Fall Sharply

Hong Kong stocks ended sharply lower on Thursday morning, in line with a sell-off across Asia following another Wall Street rout, with traders growing concerned about spiking virus cases.

The Hang Seng Index fell 1.8 percent, to 23,319.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.5 percent to 3,231, while the Shenzhen Composite Index dropped 2.1 percent, to 2,156.

Singapore and Jakarta all down more than 1 percent, and Taipei shed more than 2 percent. Tokyo, Sydney, and Wellington were also well down.

Seoul slumped more than 2 percent after South Korea said forces from the North had shot a South Korean official and cremated him after he disappeared off a patrol vessel and ended up in Pyongyang' waters.

Market unease was increased by fears of an extended battle over the US election result, with Donald Trump refusing to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power should he lose to Joe Biden. (AFP)

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