HONG KONG, March 9 — Hong Kong stocks retreated today ahead of key US jobs data at the end of the week, with fears that a forecast-beating figure will pressure the Federal Reserve to further hike interest rates to combat inflation.

The Hang Seng Index shed 0.63 percent, or 125.51 points, to 19,925.74.

The Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.22 percent, or 7.15 points, to 3,276.09, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange dropped 0.07 percent, or 1.58 points, to 2,113.33. — AFP