HK rises as region slips ahead of key tech earnings

Asian stocks slipped on Monday as the dour mood that sullied last week's trading continued, with investors gearing up for a crucial run of central bank decisions and tech earnings. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index opened up 63 points, or 0.28 percent, at 23,156. The tech index was up 16 points, or 0.43 percent, to 3,888 while the China enterprises index rose 21 points, or 0.28 percent, to 7,777. Up north, the Shanghai Composite Index opened down 19 points, or 0.53 percent, at 3,671. The Shenzhen Component Index fell 113 points, or 0.97 percent, to 11,560 while the ChiNext Index was 38 points, or 1.43 percent, lower at 2,645. In Tokyo, the Nikkei opened 243 points, or 0.39 percent, lower at 62,449, peaked in morning trading at 62,856 before being 188 points down at one stage before lunch. In Seoul, the Kospi fell 51 points, or 0.92 percent, to open at 5,499 and was 54 points lower at one stage before noon. AI-linked firms continued to struggle amid worries about the sustainability of the colossal investment boom that pushed stock markets to multiple record highs in the first half of the year. Traders are growing increasingly worried about when the vast sums pumped into the...