HSI Listless Ahead Of China-US Trade Talks

Hong Kong shares went into the break slightly lower on Thursday after fluctuating through the morning, with investors keeping an eye on key China-US trade talks in Washington.

The Hang Seng Index inched down just over 12 points, to 31,097.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.2 percent, to 3,162, while the Shenzhen Composite Index lost 0.3 percent, to 1,826.

Most Asian traders were biding their time as a healthy lead from Wall Street was tempered by geopolitical concerns and caution ahead of high-level trade talks in Washington.

Sydney was 0.4 percent down while Seoul was also off 0.1 percent. Taipei and Manila were also down.

However, Tokyo ended the morning up 0.4 percent, with exporters boosted by a generally weaker yen. Singapore added 0.2 percent and Wellington was also higher.

On currency markets the dollar has benefited from bets on higher US rates, keeping it around multi-month highs against its major peers, with retail data this week having provided further support. (AFP)

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