Hong Kong stocks post loss for the week after US data shock triggers regional sell-off

Hong Kong stocks stumbled after a surge in US unemployment and manufacturing contraction triggered worries about a slowdown in the world's largest economy, while the city's developer were under additional pressure after Hongkong Land reported a jump in losses in its latest earnings announcement.

The Hang Seng Index lost 2.1 per cent to 16,945.51 at the close of trade on Friday, pushing the benchmark into the red for the week. The Tech Index declined 2.6 per cent, while the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.9 per cent.

All but 12 of the 82 members of the index dropped. HSBC slid 3.7 per cent to HK$65.75 and insurer AIA lost 2.5 per cent to HK$51.60, leading declines in the financial sector. Tencent weakened 2 per cent to HK$358.20, Alibaba lost 2.8 per cent to HK$75.35 and Trip.com tumbled 3.9 per cent to HK$315.20.

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Electric vehicle maker BYD shed 3.4 per cent to HK$219.20 and peer Li Auto weakened 1.9 per cent to HK$74.40, as the intense price war in China's EV market squeezed carmakers' profitability.

Local developers tumbled after Hongkong Land reported a 150 per cent jump in net loss for the first half amid the prolonged property downturn on the mainland and Hong Kong. New World Developments slid 2.1 per cent to HK$7.11 to hover near a record low, while Hang Lung Properties dropped 0.9 per cent to HK$5.55, a fresh 24-year low. Overnight data showed the US economy cooled, with weekly unemployment claims approaching a one-year high, while manufacturing PMI declined more than expected.

Major Asian stock markets stumbled across the board as risk appetite soured, with Japan's Nikkei 255 Index leading the retreat with a 5.8 per cent loss. South Korea's Kospi lost 3.7 per cent and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 2.1 per cent.

"The market is now shifting its focus to signs of recession now that the Fed has turned more dovish on rate cut possibilities," Ping An Securities said in a note on Friday. "The risk-averse sentiment is likely to persist in the short term due to economic and geopolitical uncertainty."

After today's decline the Hang Seng Index, registered a third straight week of losses. The persistent deflation pressures in China and Beijing's reluctance to stimulate have also pushed investors to reduce their exposure.

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