Hong Kong stocks lower at close, Trip.com tumbles 19pc

Hong Kong stocks narrowed losses and inched down about 0.3 percent at the close on Thursday.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 76 points, or 0.28 percent, to 26,923 points, with the full-day turnover at HK$290.4 billion.

The Hang Seng Tech Index slid by 1.35 percent to 5,828 points. 

The laggard, Trip.com (9961), dived 19 percent, or HK$108.7, to a half-year low.

In contrast, New World Development (0017) surged 9.11 percent, as the market estimated it would sell parts of its Rosewood Hotel Group to US company Marriott International despite the denial from the hotel.

New World Development Store China (0825) also rose 5.17 percent after it announced a management adjustment on Wednesday.

As Hong Kong's property market showed optimitic outlook this year, other major developers, including Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016), CK Asset (1113), Henderson Land Development (0012), and Hang Lung Properties (0101), outperformed the market, up 2.2 percent, 1.9 percent, 1.8 percent, and 1.7 percent, respectively. 

Major tech heavyweights slipped. Netease (9999) and Kuaishou (1024) fell nearly 3 percent, while Alibaba (9988) dropped 2.6 percent.

In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite Index inched down 0.33 percent to 4,112, while the Shenzhen Component Index increased 0.41 percent to 14,306.