Hong Kong, Shanghai: Stocks open down

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong and Shanghai stocks slumped in the first few minutes of trade Friday, following a region wide sell-off as investors digested a raft of corporate earnings.

The Hang Seng Index fell 0.62 per cent, or 167.34 points, to 26,963.83.

And the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index eased 0.30 per cent, or 9.61 points, to 3,240.17 while the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, edged down 0.15 per cent, or 2.83 points, to 1,863.13.

AFP