Hong Kong: Shares end down, casinos slump

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong stocks ended lower Friday after a three-day rally, with casino firms battered by a report that officials were to halve the amount of cash mainland Chinese gamblers could withdraw from ATMs in the gaming city of Macau.

The Hang Seng Index fell 0.44 per cent, or 100.86 points, to 22,760.98.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.54 per cent or 17.51 points, to 3,232.88 but the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, slipped 0.35 per cent, or 7.36 points, to 2,070.01.

AFP