HK stocks slide at open on news of new Covid variant

Hong Kong stocks opened sharply lower on Friday, in line with a sell-off across Asia following the discovery of a new virus variant that has several mutations and has fanned fears it could spread globally.

The Hang Seng Index sank 1.0 percent to 24,502.

The Shanghai Composite Index eased 0.2 percent to 3,576, while the Shenzhen Composite Index also slipped 0.2 percent to 2,507. (AFP)