Hong Kong, Shanghai: Stocks open down

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong and Shanghai stocks opened lower Thursday following choppy trade on Wall Street and in Europe as investors digested news that a US interest rate hike was more likely.

The Hang Seng Index fell 0.6 per cent, or 119.62 points, to 19,706.79.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.19 per cent, or 5.20 points, to 2,802.31 while the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, edged down 0.07 per cent, or 1.29 points, to 1,764.79.

AFP