Around the World's Markets

THE STOCK MARKET was battered by continuing Sino-Taiwan tensions and by overnight weakness on Wall Street. The Hang Seng index fell 180.74 points, or 1.33 per cent, to 13,419.66.

Already rattled by Sino-Taiwan tensions, investors were unnerved by falls in offshore markets, particularly Wall Street overnight, traders said. "There are excuses not to buy or reasons not to buy. There are no strong reasons at the moment to be an aggressive buyer," said one trader.