Hong Kong stocks ended sharply lower Thursday after Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell said interest rates would continue to rise as the bank tries to bring inflation under control.

The Hang Seng Index fell 1.24 percent, or 237.69 points, to close at 18,934.36.

The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.22 percent, or 6.99 points, to 3,182.38, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange added 0.31 percent, or 6.29 points, to 2,027.33. (AFP)