Hong Kong: Shares finished sharply lower

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong shares finished with a big loss on Thursday as economic recovery optimism gives way to worries that a surge in prices will lead to a hike in interest rates.

The Hang Seng Index fell 2.15 per cent, or 643.63 points, to 29,236.79.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dropped 2.05 per cent, or 73.41 points, to 3,503.41, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange shed 2.90 per cent, or 68.44 points, to 2,294.67.

AFP