Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index set to open lower after 3.2% decline.

The Hong Kong stock market is expected to open weakly on Monday, continuing a downward trend that has seen the Hang Seng Index drop nearly 830 points, or 3.2 percent, over the past four sessions. The index closed at 25,116.85 on Friday, just below the 25,120-point mark. Market analysts anticipate another lackluster session, influenced by a soft lead from global markets.

This decline follows a mixed performance in U.S. markets on Friday, where major indices struggled to maintain gains. The Dow Jones fell by 107.59 points, or 0.20 percent, while the NASDAQ and S&P 500 also posted losses. The recent pullback on Wall Street is attributed to profit-taking after a period of gains that saw the S&P 500 reach a record intraday high. Additionally, economic data reflecting a drop in U.S. consumer sentiment and unexpected declines in retail sales have contributed to the gloomy outlook.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng's significant dip has been driven primarily by losses in the financial and technology sectors. Although energy companies provided some support, they were not enough to offset the broader decline. The index's performance on Friday saw it trade between 25,089.14 and 25,311.86 before closing down 279.65 points, or 1.10 percent.

As markets brace for another weak start, rising oil prices are also a concern. Crude oil surged on Friday amid tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which have impacted shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. With the global economic outlook appearing shaky, investors are likely to remain cautious, and further market fluctuations can be expected in the coming days.