On Tuesday Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged
down 1.24% or 237.46 points and closed at 18,942.23 after S&P released
announcement it may cut credit rating for 15 Eurozone countries as lingering
debt crisis threatens financial stability. Financials put main negative
pressure on the index as Agricultural Bank of China Ltd lost 1.7%, Bank of
China Ltd. declined 1.8% and HSBC Holdings PLC dropped 1% after it received a
fine from UK's regulators for prohibited sales of particular securities to
retail investors. Esprit Holdings Ltd plunged 10.5% after company's CEO resigned.