Hong Kong stocks close at new 18-month low as they fall for a fifth straight week
- Mainland Chinese stocks had a bumpy ride this week but ended the week higher after government support measures were announced
Hong Kong stocks dropped for a fifth straight week bringing the total loss for the period to 12.1 per cent, amid fears about the trade war and a downturn in the US market.
There was some relief for mainland markets, which bounced back this week after the government introduced support measures.
Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng Index closed on Friday at a fresh 18-month low 24,717.63, down 276.83 points, or 1.11 per cent. It finished the week with a 3.3 per cent decline.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, known as the H-shares index, fell 1.2 per cent to 10058.63, and is down for 1.6 per cent for the whole week. It has lost 9.06 per cent during five consecutive weekly declines.
Mainland Chinese stocks had a bumpy ride this week. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index surged 4.1 per cent on Monday, the most in two and a half years, after the government announced a range of measures to support the market and the economy. However, the index retreated 2.3 per cent on Tuesday.