Hong Kong Stocks Slide As Asian Markets Retreat

Hong Kong stocks fell on Friday amid uncertainty over the outcome of US-China trade talks in Beijing, following Wall Street's negative lead on weak US retail sales.

The Hang Seng Index lost 1.9 percent, to 27,900.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index lost 1.4 percent, to close at 2,682, while the Shenzhen Composite Index closed 0.7 percent lower, to 1,389.

Tokyo dropped 1.1 percent, with equities weighed down as the safe-haven yen rose, harming exporters.

Seoul, Taipei, Wellington and Jakarta all posted losses too, though Sydney edged up.

On the currency markets, the pound won back some of its earlier losses after British Prime Minister Theresa May had suffered another defeat in parliament over her Brexit strategy, just 43 days before Britain is due to leave the European Union. (AFP)