Hong Kong - Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index slumped 8.3 per cent Friday to plunge below 13,000 points, closing at 12,618.38, its lowest level in four years.

The index shed 1,142 points and in October lost more than 30 per cent of its value so far.

Turnover was 56.14 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.2 billion dollars).

Analysts blamed concerns about corporate earnings and wider global economic woes for the drop.

Among the biggest losers were HSBC and Standard Chartered, two of the territory's largest banks, dragged down by worries about the banks' investments in emerging economies.

HSBC saw its share price crash 12.5 per cent to end the day at 88 Hong Kong dollars.

Hong Kong - The benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped below 14,000 to close 3.55 per cent down at 13,760.49 Thursday after a roller-coaster trading session which saw the index fall more than 6 per cent in morning trade.

The index recovered to punch above 14,000 in early afternoon trade before the gains were lost and the index ended the day 506 points down.

Turnover was 56.46 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.23 billion US dollars).

Analysts said Hong Kong stocks were adversely affected by weak corporate earnings, with Chinese companies especially affected.

Hong Kong - The territory will have to pay about 2 billion Hong Kong dollars (256 million US dollars) more for the water it imports from China as a result of inflation and an appreciating Chinese currency, a media report said Thursday.

Hong Kong - Weakening demand and mounting losses have led Hong Kong Airlines to suspend flights to three cities in China, a media report said Thursday.

The regional carrier will halt services to Xian, Chengdu and Chongqing when the winter schedule takes effect on Sunday, the South China Morning Post said.

Flights to Xian will be restored next summer.

Hong Kong Airlines together with rival carrier Hong Kong Express Airways are both partly owned by China's Hainan Airlines Group.

Hong Kong - The benchmark Hang Seng Index to fall 5.15 per cent on Wednesday to close at 14,266.6 points, or 774.57 points down on the day.

Turnover was 54 billion Hong Kong dollars (6.92 billion dollars).

The index crashed 6.5 per cent to 14,038.41 points, its lowest level since July 2005, before recovering slightly before the close.

Concerns about corporate profits came after several companies, including China's Huaneng Power International, Jiangxi Copper and Singamas Container (Holdings) warned they faced tougher times ahead.

Hong Kong - Banks in Hong Kong, China and Macau have been asked to help finance construction of a 37-billion-Hong-Kong-dollar (4.74-billion-US-dollar) bridge across the Pearl River estuary, government officials said Monday.

The institutions, including some of the region's largest financial players including HSBC, Standard Chartered and the Bank of China, have been approached to see if they are willing to partially bankroll the 35-kilometre-long link.