Hong Kong share prices should rebound after a rocky patch, dealers said, but investors should be aware of the effect of restrictions on mainland money flowing into the territory. For the week to November 16 the Hang Seng index ended turbulent trade at 27.614.43 points, a drop of 4.06 percent or 1,168.98 points on the week.
But Francis Lun, general manager at Fulbright Securities, said the market had shown in a difficult week that it would not fall far below 27,000 points. "The market was looking for a bottom and seems to have reached it Tuesday when it fell below 27,000. It should rebound next week," he added.
Reports that China is trying to curb illegal flows of cash to the city's bourse from money taken out from Shenzhen banks, has already had an impact on the market and could be more sustained, he added.
"The effect is being felt, and also the turnover (the value of shares traded on a particular day) is declining," Lun added, saying he expected the bourse to trade between 27,000 and 30,000 points next week. But Lun said news that the long-awaited scheme to allow individuals from China to invest in the local bourse could go ahead in January would lead to a rise in the medium term.
Other concerns that Beijing may raise interest rates again on the back of rising inflation has already been factored into last week's drop, Eugene Law, research head at Celestial Asia Securities said.
"A rate hike has been partly reflected in the shares, so the impact may be limited going forward," said Law. Howard Gorges, vice chairman of South China Securities, said investors will be wary of continuing volatility which has seen the index drop more than 1,000 points four times this month.
"Next week local investors will do what (Federal Reserve Chairman) Alan Greenspan did best - wait and watch. They will look to China for indications of inflation and fund inflows," he said.
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