(Yicai Global) Jan. 29 -- Hong Kong's stock market took a battering on the first day of trading after the Chinese New Year holiday, as traders fret about the economic impact of the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China.

The Hang Seng Index, which tracks the Hong Kong stock exchange, closed down 2.82 percent to 27,160.63, its lowest point since Dec. 13 last year. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, which includes mainland firms listed in Hong Kong, dived 3.26 percent.

The pessimism hit stocks in the entertainment, travel, energy and property sectors the hardest. Casino resort operator Sands China [HKG:1928] dropped almost 6 percent to HKD39 (USD5).

It was not all bad news. Medical services firm China Health Group's shares [HKG:8225] almost quadrupled to HKD0.43 (USD0.06) and trading was suspended midday. Other pharma firms did well.

Almost 6,000 cases of the deadly pneumonia have been reported so far in China and 132 people have died. The disease has spread to the US, Germany, France, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Nepal, Vietnam, Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Thailand putting the whole world on high alert.

Mainland stock markets will re-open on Feb. 3 after a prolonged Chinese New Year break that was recently extended by authorities.

Editor: Kim Taylor