NIO Hong Kong shares touch 3-week low after $1 bln equity offering

** Hong Kong shares of NIO Inc 9866.HK fall as much as 4.2% to HK$44.76, their lowest level since August 22

** Stock on course for the biggest one-day pct drop since September 4

** U.S.-listed stock NIO.N dropped 8.9% on Wednesday

** The Chinese smart electric vehicle maker announces the pricing of its $1 billion equity offering relating to a total of

181.82 million Class A ordinary shares

** NIO says the net proceeds will be used for investments in research and development, expand battery swapping and charging networks, strengthen balance sheets, and general corporate purposes

** Nomura, with a "Neutral" rating, says it is NIO's second share placement in six months, and the brokerage estimates a 7.5%-8.6% dilutive impact to the existing shareholders of NIO

** Hang Seng Automobile Index .HSAMI eases 1.1%, Hang Seng Tech Index .HSTECH falls 1.2%, Hang Seng Index .HSI slips 0.8%

** YTD, Hong Kong-listed stock up 34.6%, U.S.-listed shares up 31.2%