HK shares drop to 5-month low

HONG KONG, Jan 27 (Reuters): Hong Kong shares tumbled to five-month lows on Monday, as a broad selloff in emerging markets escalated, taking a key benchmark further below a significant long-term technical level.

The Hang Seng Index ended down 2.1 per cent at 21,976.1 points, its lowest closing level since August 30. Losses on Monday also took the benchmark further below its 200-day moving average, now at 22,494.6 points. On last Friday, it had closed below this level for the first time in nearly five months.

The China Enterprises Index of the leading offshore Chinese listings in Hong Kong sank 2.2 per cent. The two benchmarks finished off the day's lows.

Some long-only investors started buying into Tencent Holdings and some Macau gambling stocks, along with selected property and retail counters, helping to pare losses in those stocks, traders said.

At $11.4 billion, Monday's turnover was the highest since November 19.

This week will be holiday-shortened. Hong Kong markets will trade for half a day on Thursday and then shut Friday and Monday for the Lunar New Year.