Hong Kong stocks finish sharply lower

Hong Kong stocks closed sharply lower on Thursday following tumbling US and European markets pushed by inconclusive US midterm election results and inflation fears.

The Hang Seng Index shed 1.7 percent, or 277.48 points, to 16,081.04.

The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.39 percent, or 12.04 points, to 3,036.13, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China’s second exchange was down 0.98 percent, or 19.69 points to 1991.82.