HK stocks closed lower on Wednesday in tandem with the US markets on growing expectations of US interest rates hike. The benchmark index opened down 35 points and saw its loss widened afterwards.
The Hang Seng Index ended down 168 points to 28,081. The H-share index also dropped 100 points to 14,701. Turnover reduced to HK$157.5 billion from HK$200.2 billion on Tuesday.
By market close, the northbound quota balance of the "Shanghai-HK Connect" program was Rmb12.657 billion, accounting for 97.4% of the daily allowed quota of Rmb13 billion. The southbound quota balance was Rmb9.106 billion, or 86.7% of the quota of Rmb10.5 billion.
Market heavyweights were lower. China Mobile (00941) dipped 0.85% to HK$105.5, while HSBC (00005) edged down 0.6% to HK$74.15. HKEx (00388) slid 1.16% to HK$305.8.
Tingyi (00322) bucked the trend to put on 6.65% to HK$17, despite its earnings declined in the first quarter. It was the top blue-chip gainer. Li & Fung (00494) dropped 2.63% to HK$6.66, making it the top blue-chip loser.
Zijin Mining (02899) shot up 16.39% to HK$3.48 on its plan to raise Rmb10 billion in a non-public A shares issue.