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HONG KONG Hong Kong stocks slipped in tentative early trading Monday, reversing course after a positive opening, on caution ahead of a Eurogroup meeting on financial aid to Greece, which kept buyers on the sidelines after last week’s solid gains. At 21,914.16, the Hang Seng Index hovered close to Friday’s close after a three-day advance, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 0.3% to 10,576.14. Shares of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. dropped 1.2%, China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd. fell 1.1% and Esprit Holdings Ltd. declined 2.9%, countering a 3.3% jump for footwear maker Belle International Holdings Ltd. and [...]

HONG KONG Hong Kong stocks skidded in early trade Monday after the local government slapped tax increases to cool property prices, sending shares of developers sharply lower. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.6% to 21,417.07, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index inched up 0.1% to 10,458.02 in choppy moves. Developers were slammed after the Hong Kong government increased the stamp duty on property transactions by 5%, while also introducing a buyers’ tax on purchases by non-local residents and companies. Among the hardest hit, New World Development Co. plunged 7.8%, Henderson Land Development Co. skidded 6.8% and Sun Hung Kai [...]