Hong Kong, Shanghai: Markets open lower

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong and Shanghai stocks sank in the first few minutes of trade Friday as a sell-off across global markets overshadowed forecast-beating manufacturing data from China.

The Hang Seng Index dropped 0.93 per cent, or 242.29 points, to 25,723.13.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slid 0.35 per cent, or 11.11 points, to 3,176.95 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, fell 0.30 per cent, or 5.60 points, to 1,886.67.

AFP