Hang Seng Index opens lower,  heads towards 17,000
Hong Kong stocks sank further at Friday's opening on concerns over the Israel-Hamas crisis and expectations that Federal Reserve interest rates would be kept elevated for the foreseeable future. The Hang Seng Index lost 0.97 percent, or 168.63 points, to 17,127.26. The Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.33 percent, or 10.04 points, to 2,995.36, while the Shenzhen Composite Index fell 0.47 percent, or 8.52 points, to 1,819.57. (AFP)