HSI Edges Lower At Noon On Covid Fears

Hong Kong stocks slipped in the morning session on Tuesday on fears about spreading virus infections around the world, which are overshadowing a US stimulus agreement.

The Hang Seng Index eased 22 points to 26,284.

Mainland stocks were mixed as sentiment was weighed by persisting tensions between the world's two largest economies, although losses were partially capped by strength in liquor shares and disposable sanitary product makers.

The Trump administration on Monday published a list of Chinese and Russian companies with alleged military ties that restrict them from buying a wide range of US goods and technology.

At the midday break, the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.2 percent at 3,413, while China's blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.11 percent.

The smaller Shenzhen index was up 0.13 percent.

Consumer staples and healthcare stocks were among the biggest gainers. Disposable sanitary product manufacturers soared as China looked to strengthen measures to prevent the arrival of a new strain of the coronavirus. (AFP/Reuters)

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