Hong Kong stocks fell 207.91 points, or 0.98 percent, to close on Wednesday at 20,980.81 points. The benchmark Hang Seng Index traded between 20,947.3 and 21,199.62. Turnover totaled 75.17 billion HK dollars (about 9.67 billion U.S. dollars). The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index slid 0.92 percent, or 85.22 points, to close at 9,137.79 points. All of the four sub-indices lost ground, with the Properties falling the most by 1.07 percent, followed by the Finance 1.3 percent, the Commerce and Industry 0.88 percent, and the Utilties 0.25 percent.
Local financial shares were broadly lower. Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, declined 1.08 percent to 59.25 HK dollars. Bank of East Asia, one of the largest local banks in Hong Kong, fell 2.39 percent to close at 26.55 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX decreased 0.84 percent to 190.1 HK dollars.
Property developers posted lackluster performances. Sun Hung Kai, one of Hong Kong's largest property developer by market value, closed down 1.02 percent to 92.1 HK dollars. Henderson Land ended 0.54 percent lower at 46.4 HK dollars.
Mainland-based financial stocks also fell. Bank of China, the country's third-largest lender, slid 0.9 percent to close at 3.32 HK dollars. Bank of Communications retreated 0.58 percent to 5.15 HK dollars.
Oil majors ended lower. Sinopec, the largest oil refiner, closed 1.54 percent lower at 4.46 HK dollars. PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, fell 1.22 percent to close at 4.88 HK dollars. CNOOC edged down 0.12 percent to close at 8.02 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals to 7.75 HK dollars).
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