SINGAPORE - Catch up on the morning's top business headlines in Singapore with The Straits Times Money Desk's daily update.

1. China services growth dips to 8-month low. China's services sector grew at its slowest pace in eight months in September after new orders shrank for the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis, a survey showed on Friday, exposing more weakness in the world's second-largest economy.

2. Hong Kong stocks lead Asia markets lower. Hong Kong shares tumbled 1.01 per cent by the break on Friday morning as investors returned from a two-day public holiday with the financial hub still partially shut down by pro-democracy protests.

3. SMEs mixed on business prospects. Singapore small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have mixed sentiments about the business outlook for the next six months, with the business services and the construction and engineering sectors the most positive.