Hong Kong Stocks Fall As Trading Resumes After Storm

Hong Kong stocks lost nearly 1 percent on Wednesday with trade cancelled in the morning owing to a strong typhoon in the city.

The Hang Sang Index lost 0.9 percent, to 25,140.

On the mainland, Shanghai fell 0.5 percent to 3,435, while the Shenzhen Composite Index lost 0.6 percent, to 2,284.

Asian markets mostly managed to eke out gains, tracking yet another record on Wall Street, with hopes for a possible breakthrough in deadlocked US stimulus talks.

In early trade Tokyo was up 0.2 percent, while Sydney was up more than 1 percent and Seoul added 0.6 percent.

Taipei, Singapore and Jakarta were also in positive territory, though Shanghai retreated after a four-day run-up.

Wellington and Manila were also lower after recent big advances.

Uncertainty over the stimulus, rising US infections and the Fed's massive bond-buying has, however, hurt the dollar, which is sitting around two-year lows against the euro, despite a surge in new virus cases there.

Sterling also briefly jumped back above its 2020 high against the greenback, having tumbled around 13 percent at the height of the pandemic panic. (AFP)

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