Hong Kong Shares End The Week With Losses

Hong Kong shares ended the week on Friday with losses after US President Donald Trump suddenly announced tariffs on all Mexican imports, stoking anxiety among investors.

The Hang Seng Index fell 0.8 percent, or 213 points, to close at 26,901.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.2 percent lower at 2,898, while the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on the mainland's second exchange, closed 0.2 points lower, at 1,531.

Markets around the region also edged down, despite modest gains on Wall Street overnight.

Trump's Twitter announcement of a five percent tariff on all goods from Mexico starting June 10 sent shares in automakers with plants in the North American country falling sharply.

The announcement saw shares in Japanese automakers plunge in early trade, with Honda dropping 4.3 percent to 2,651 yen, Mazda plummeting 7.1 percent to 1,061.5 yen, Nissan down 5.3 percent to 734.6 yen, and Toyota slipping 2.8 percent to 6,384 yen.

Tokyo's main index fell 1.6 percent. Singapore lost 0.8 percent, Sydney and Seoul managed a 0.1 percent gain. (AFP)