Hong Kong shares eases

The benchmark Hang Seng Index lost steam after early gains as investors squared long positions on concerns over unrest in Hong Kong as pro-democracy activists prepare for a major protest in their ‘Occupy Central’ campaign on Oct.1. The Hang Seng Index was down 0.1 per cent at 23,903.72 points. The China Enterprises Index of the top Chinese listings in Hong Kong dropped 0.5 per cent. The blue chip index was down 0.1 per cent at lunch break, but the Hang Seng Properties sub-index had gained 0.5 per cent. Local property stocks led the early gains with Hang Lung Property rising 1.9 per cent and Sino Land Co advancing 1.1 per cent, offsetting a slide in gaming stocks, such as Galaxy Entertainment and Sands China, which both were down more than two per cent, according to Reuters.