China Enterprises Index collapses 7.18%

HONG KONG, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell sharply by 854.33 points, or 7.18 percent, to close Monday's trading at 11,037.09 as global markets were overwhelmed by pessimism towards an increasingly evident recession of the economy of the United States.

The H-shares index, initiated in August 1994 and readjusted on March 10, 2008, tracks the overall performance of 42 Chinese mainland state-owned enterprises listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Hang Seng China H-Financials Index nose-dived 924.08 points, or6.61 percent, to close at 13,046.03.

The H-Financials Index, initiated on Nov. 27, 2006, readjusted on Sept. 10, 2007, tracks the performance of nine major banks and insurers of the Chinese mainland.

Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index tumbled 266.65 points, or 6.66 percent, to close at 3,739.15.

Introduced on Oct. 3, 2001 and readjusted on Sept. 11, 2006, Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index gauges the performance of 103 Hong Kong-listed companies with principal places of business in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

Hang Seng China-Affiliated Corporations Index slumped 281.86 points, or 5.81 percent, to close at 4,567.74.

The index tracks the performance of 31 locally listed companies with a significant equity interest held by entities in the Chinese mainland.