17.04.202602:02:42UTC+00Hong Kong Stocks Slip as Caution Builds Over US-Iran Deal

The Hang Seng Index fell 230 points, or 0.9%, to 26,170 on Friday, ending a three‑day winning streak as sentiment turned cautious over the prospects for a durable US‑Iran ceasefire. Market mood was driven by reports that US President Donald Trump expressed confidence in an early resolution to the conflict, indicating that Iran had agreed to key conditions, including curbing its nuclear ambitions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He also announced a 10‑day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, widely seen as part of broader efforts to advance negotiations with Tehran.

Nonetheless, investors remained wary of execution and durability risks. The absence of clarity on a long‑term agreement kept risk appetite subdued and encouraged profit‑taking after recent gains, as energy prices swung and geopolitical uncertainty persisted. Major decliners included Tencent Holdings (-0.9%), Xiaomi Corporation (-0.9%), AIA Group (-1.6%), Geely Automobile (-0.8%), and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) (-0.8%).