Hang Seng Index down 2.28% on Thu

Oct. 29, 2009 (China Knowledge) - Hong Kong stocks fell on Thursday. The benchmark Hang Seng Index opened 471 points lower at 21,290. After touching the intraday low of 21,134.33 points, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index fell 496.59 points or 2.28% to close at 21,264.99.

Mainboard turnover rose to HK$80.81 billion. 

The Hang Seng China Enterprise Index, which tracks the overall performance of 43 Chinese mainland state-owned enterprises on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, slid 364.51 points or 2.84% to 12,466.67 points.

Market heavyweight HSBC Holdings Plc<0005><HBC>, which accounts for the largest weighting for the Hang Seng Index, decreased 1.21% to HK$85.8.

Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Ltd<2689> declined 11.49% to HK$10.78. Shenzhen Neptunus Interlong Bio-Tech Co<8329> increased 15.23% to HK$1.74.

Airline stocks ended lower. Air China Ltd<601111><0753> fell 2.76% to HK$4.23. China Eastern Airlines Co Ltd<600115><0670><CEA> went down 3.54% and closed at HK$2.18. China Southern Airlines Ltd<600029><1055><ZNH> slid 4.53% to HK$2.32. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd<0293> fell 1.77% to HK$12.18.

Stocks of gold firms ended mixed. Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd<601899><2899> decreased 4.05% to HK$7.58. Zhaojin Mining Industry Co Ltd<1818> swelled 1.92% to HK$13.78. Lingbao Gold Co Ltd<3330> shrank 1.39% to HK$2.84. Sino Gold Mining Ltd<1862> slipped 2.34% to HK$45.9.