Hong Kong shares set for higher start

This as better economic data from the United States supported stocks on Wall Street.

A Reuters report said, “The Hang Seng index closed down 2.1 percent at 19,466.8 after being dragged lower by the slide in insurance counters after heavyweight China Life's disappointing results."

Meanwhile the sharp drop in gold prices overnight, according to the report, "could lead investors to shift some money from the precious metal to hammered down stocks trading at attractive valuations."

Local investors are said to be focused on half-year results from Chinese companies.

View the report here.