Around the World's Markets: Hong Kong

SHARES ENDED down almost 1.5 per cent following a bout of profit taking. The Hang Seng index finished 169.36 points lower at 11,744.74, with major blue-chips leading the fallers. Shares in HSBC slid 1.48 per cent to HK$266 and Hong Kong Telecom 2.79 per cent to HK$15.70.

Tom Hester at ING Barings in Hong Kong said: "Technically, the market has come a long way in quite a short time, and for its own good it could do with a pull-back."