Hong Kong shares end flat

HONG KONG, Mar 29 (AFP): Hong Kong shares ended flat on Tuesday in cautious trade amid concerns over the Japanese nuclear power plant crisis and ahead of the earnings reports from large blue-chips. The benchmark Hang Seng Index edged down 7.83 points to 23,060.36 on turnover of HK$67.46 billion ($8.65 billion). "The Hong Kong stock market has been in a deadlock recently as a number of opposing factors were at play," Haitong Securities said in a report. It said favorable factors included undemanding valuations for Hong Kong equities and an improvement in sentiment after the China's National People's Congress meeting, where Beijing affirmed plans to invest in affordable housing. However, concerns linger due to a further surge in oil prices and expectations of more rate hikes in Asia and Europe amid rising inflation, according to the report. Ahead of its earnings report, Cheung Kong, the property flagship of tycoon Li Ka-shing, finished 0.5 per cent.