Friday, 03 September 2010 02:11
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Hong Kong shares declined early Wednesday as Chinese banks retreated after posting strong gains in the closing minutes of trade in the previous session. The Hang Seng Index fell 1% to 21,459.43 and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gave up 1.5% to 12,410.46. Shares of Bank of China Ltd. /quotes/comstock/22h!e:3988 (
, +0.55, +4.28%) slid 2% and Bank of Communications Ltd. /quotes/comstock/22h!e:3328 (
, -0.17, -1.90%) shed 2.1%. Mainland China traded shares also declined amid concerns about policy tightening measures to restrict bank lending, with the Shanghai Composite dropping 0.9% to 3,216.67.