HSI Fades 175 Pts; Chips & Apple Concepts Devoured

At midday, $Hang Seng Index (800000.HK)$ fell 175 pts or 0.9% to end at 18,274. $Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (800100.HK)$ sank 58 pts or 0.9% to end at 6,344. $Hang Seng TECH Index (800700.HK)$sagged 61 pts or 1.5% to end at 4,114. Half-day turnover totaled $43.59 billion.

Techs descended along with the external market. As $Apple (AAPL.US)$ shares came under pressure, $COWELL (01415.HK)$ and $SUNNY OPTICAL (02382.HK)$slipped 6.8% and 3.6%. Chip equipment maker $ASMPT (00522.HK)$ crashed down 3%, whereas chip makers $SMIC (00981.HK)$ and $HUA HONG SEMI (01347.HK)$ free fell 5.1% and 4.8%, amidst concern of spicier chip tech control by the US on China.