Hang Seng falls 0.16% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Hong Kong , 23 Aug - Hong Kong shares closed slightly lower in cautious trade, as investors looked ahead to a key speech from Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell later in the day.

Powell is widely expected to bolster expectations for a rate cut on the part of the US central bank next month, although market watchers are now debating how big that cut may be. A minority anticipates the Fed could cut rates by 0.50 percentage points, although most still expect a 0.25 percentage point cut.

The Hang Seng index slipped 0.16% to close at 17,612.10 points.

AAA-Hob

(RADIOCOR) 23-08-24 10:38:48 (0197) 5 NNNN