** Hong Kong shares of HSBC fall 2.4% to HK$68.40,
on course for the biggest one-day pct drop since March 7
** Stock on track to snap four straight sessions of gains; biggest percentage loser in Hang Seng Finance Index and second biggest loser Hang Seng Composite Index tracking financials stocks
** HSBC's largest shareholder, China's Ping An Insurance , is mulling options to reduce its 8% stake in the Asia-focussed lender, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday
** HSBC and Ping An declined to comment on the report
** Ping An's Hong Kong stock rises 2.1% to HK$43.90, highest since Oct 13; Shanghai stock climbs 1.3%
** Hang Seng Composite Index tracking financials stocks
gains 0.2%, Hang Seng Finance Index climbs 0.3% and Hang Seng Index rises 1.1%
** HSBC Hong Kong shares surged 11.7% YTD, Ping An's Hong Kong stock up 24.2% YTD
(Reporting by Donny Kwok)
((donny.kwok@thomsonreuters.com))
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