HSI ends down 296 pts at 24,940 midday; turnover at HK$84bn

    HK stocks extended yesterday's weakness on Tuesday morning session in volatile trade. The benchmark index opened 155 points higher and reversed its trend as mainland market plunged again.
  By midday, the Hang Seng Index ended down 296 points or 1.2% to 24,940. The H-share index fell 352 points or 2.9% to 11,879. Half-day turnover reduced to HK$83.7 billion from HK$107 billion on Monday.
  By 11:31 a.m., the northbound quota balance of the "Shanghai-HK Connect" program was RMB13.046 billion, surpassing the quota of RMB13 billion. It meant the sell trade value was larger than buy order value. The southbound quota balance was RMB11.037 billion, also larger than the daily allowed quota of RMB10.5 billion.
  Chinese insurers fell in tandem with the market even though operating data from Beijing insurer regulator show robust trend for the first five months of 2015. NCI (01336) plunged 9.7% to HK$35.95. PICC P&C (02328) slid 8.5% to HK$15.7. China Taiping (00966) sank 6.8% to HK$23.2.
  Meanwhile, securities players were under pressure after Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses released balance of margin financing. Guotai Junan (01788) declined 9% to HK$3.46. Haitong Int'l (00665), First Shanghai (00227), and CITIC Sec (06030) were all weaker, with decline ranging between 9% and 10%. GF Sec (01776) hit post-IPO low again, plunging 7% to HK$14.48. HTSC (00688) dived 11.26%.