HONG KONG

SHARES slipped to a fourthstraight loss yesterday, dragged by weakness in the financial and property sectors as investors locked in profit ahead of key earnings, unwinding a rally at the start of the year.

The Hang Seng Index closed down 0.15% at 20,856.63. The China Enterprises Index of top mainland listings in Hong Kong ended down 0.87% at 10,766.

Chinese banks were weak ahead of their earnings reports. Agricultural Bank of China Ltd, expected to be the first of the big four Chinese banks to announce earnings today ended flat.

Aluminium Corp of China Ltd closed up 1.1% after mainland media reported that Beijing would step up efforts to consolidate the nonferrous mining and smelting industries, a move seen benefiting larger players. It climbed as much as 6% intraday. - Reuters