HK shares end Jan near 5-month low
Friday, 31 January 2014
HONG KONG, Jan 30 (Reuters): Hong Kong shares ended January near a five-month low, as risk appetites were reduced on Thursday by the US Federal Reserve's fresh cut in monetary stimulus and an underwhelming private survey of China factory activity.
Mainland Chinese markets also retreated, ahead of a week-long Lunar New Year holiday that starts on Friday. Hong Kong markets closed at mid-day Thursday and will resume trading on Tuesday.
The Hang Seng Index ended down 0.5 per cent at 22,035.4 points, while the China Enterprises Index of the top Chinese listings in Hong Kong sank 0.8 per cent. Early on Thursday, both indexes touched their lowest levels since August, but they pared losses before the close.
They shed 5.5 and 9.2 per cent, respectively, in January, making it their worst month since June.
The Shanghai Composite Index, at its midday trading break, was down 0.5 per cent, while the CSI300 of the largest Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listings was off 0.7 per cent.