HONG KONG, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks began the fourth quarter on a dismal note, with shares hitting a three-week low on Friday as disappointing U.S. manufacturing and jobless claims data cast further doubt on the strength of economic recovery.
Toys-to-property company RBI Holdings bucked the market weakness and more than tripled after saying it would acquire Apollo Precision, a maker of silicon-based thin film photovoltaic modules, for HK$4.18 billion ($539.4 million), as it aims to cash in on growing demand for solar energy in China. The stock was the top percentage gainer in Hong Kong, up 237.69 percent at HK$4.39. The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 2.77 percent, or 579.76 points, to 20,375.49.
The China Enterprises Index of top locally listed mainland Chinese stocks fell 2.8 percent to 11,526.32. (Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Chris Lewis)