Hong Kong stocks close 0.76 percent lower

HONG KONG: Hong Kong stocks fell 0.76 percent Thursday following losses on Wall Street, as two ratings agencies sounded alarm bells over the potential impact of the eurozone debt crisis on major banks.

The benchmark Hang Seng index lost 143.43 points to 18,817.47 on turnover of HK$60.19 billion ($7.73 billion).

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, shed 0.16 percent, or 3.91 points, to 2,463.05 on turnover of 65.9 billion yuan ($10.4 billion).