Hong Kong: Hang Seng tumbles on reopening after CNY holidays

HONG Kong shares took a tumble when the market reopened on Thursday after the Chinese New Year holiday season.

The benchmark Hang Seng index opened 4 per cent down at 9.30am, though it had recovered marginally to 18,617.73 points or 3.5 per cent down as at 9.46am.

With a flight from risk still roiling global markets, the decline in Hong Kong was in line with poor sentiments across Asian equities on Thursday morning.

Singapore's Straits Times Index had reopened 2.7 per cent down on Wednesday after its Chinese New Year break, though it ended up closing 1.6 per cent down. It also started Thursday one per cent lower from the previous session.

South Korea also reopened from holiday on Thursday with a 2.5 per cent drop.

Tokyo was closed on Thursday for a holiday.