HONG KONG, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks were set to open slightly lower on Tuesday with a flat close on Wall Street offering few cues, while more expectations of a rate increase by China could keep investors on the defensive and mute turnover.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index <.HSI> was set to open down 0.26 percent at 23,177.4. A weak mainland market saw the Shanghai Composite <.SSEC> drop 1.5 percent in early trade.
China's central bank may raise interest rates again this weekend, the China Securities Journal reported on its front page. [ID:nBJI002478] (Reporting by Vikram S Subhedar; Editing by Chris Lewis)