China, HK stocks retreat as investors brace for tough quarter

Shares in China and Hong Kong
fell on Tuesday as investors take stock of the country’s weak
economic outlook, which points to a difficult first quarter of
2019, with the impact of policy support expected later in the
year.
** At the midday break, the Shanghai Composite index was
down 0.7 percent at 2,591.37.
** China’s blue-chip CSI300 index was down 0.9
percent, with its financial sector sub-index lower
by 0.5 percent, the consumer staples sector falling
1.6 percen