HONG KONG (May 19):  Hong Kong stocks ended the session lower Thursday in line with a regional sell-off as investors weighed news that a US interest rate hike was more likely than the markets thought, as Shanghai closed flat.

The Hang Seng Index shed 0.67%, or 132.08 points, to 19694.33.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.02%, or 0.60 points, to 2,806.91 but the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, rose 0.55%, or 9.80 points, to 1,775.88.