2026.03.1302:02:55UTC+00Hong Kong Markets Set for Second Weekly Decline

Hong Kong stocks fell 225 points, or 0.9%, to 25,495 in Friday morning trading, extending their losing streak to a third consecutive session following overnight weakness on Wall Street. The U.S.–Iran conflict entered its 14th day, with Tehran pledging to keep a key global oil chokepoint closed, while delays in U.S. strategic reserve deliveries added to inflation concerns. In mainland China, equities slipped after two days of gains as investors awaited January–February activity data—particularly industrial production, retail sales, and the surveyed unemployment rate—due next week. Even so, losses were partly limited by the view that most macroeconomic risks have already been priced in, with investors continuing to accumulate undervalued stocks. Selling pressure was broad-based across Hong Kong sectors, with notable decliners including Orient Overseas (-7.2%), SenseTime (-5.2%), Cathay Pacific (-3.1%), Zijin Mining (-2.6%), and SMIC (-1.7%). The Hang Seng Index is on course for a second straight weekly loss, currently down about 1.0% for the week.