Protests, Mainland Data Push Down HK Stocks

Hong Kong shares fell on Monday following last week's healthy gains, while investors were also spooked by fresh violent protests in the city and data further highlighting weakness in the Chinese economy.

The Hang Seng Index lost 0.8 percent, to 27,124.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended flat, at 3,030 while the Shenzhen Composite Index added 0.2 percent, to 1,685.

Oil prices saw a record surge on Monday after attacks on two Saudi facilities slashed output in the world's top exporter by half, fuelling fresh geopolitical fears as Donald Trump blamed Iran and raised the possibility of a military strike on the country.

The surge in crude lit a fire under energy firms, with Hong Kong-listed CNOOC up more than 7 percent and PetroChina 4 percent higher. Woodside Petroleum rallied more than 4percent in Sydney.

However, airlines took a hit from the prospect of higher fuel costs. Cathay Pacific dropped almost 5 percent in Hong Kong, Air China dropped 5.5 percent in Shanghai and Qantas dived more than 4 percent in Sydney.

"Tensions in the Middle East are rising quickly, meaning this story will continue to reverberate this week even after the knee-jerk panic in oil markets this morning," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at Oanda.

In Asian trading, Singapore shed 0.1 percent and Jakarta sank 2 percent. There were also losses in Manila, Mumbai, Bangkok and Wellington. Tokyo was closed for a holiday.

Sydney added 0.1 percent, Seoul gained 0.6 percent and Taipei was 0.7 percent higher. (AFP)