Chinese stocks ended mixed Friday, but Hong Kong shares posted a modest advance for the week, while Shanghai’s benchmark scored its third straight week of gains.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index dropped 185.49 points, or 1%, to 19,285.63. The index retreated 1.4% for the week, breaking a six-week string of gains.
The yen weakened versus the U.S. dollar, with the greenback buying ¥119.44, compared with ¥118.57 at the previous Tokyo stock close.
The Hang Seng Index fell 10.88 points to 24,486.20. The index rose 0.5% for the week, adding to a 2.3% rise in the previous week.
Among market movers, state-owned energy giant PetroChina dipped 0.1% in Hong Kong, while its Shanghai-listed A-shares declined 2.4%, after the company said a 17% fall in net profit last year was mainly due to “the fall in crude prices.”
Major mainland Chinese bank Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. pulled back 1.3% in Hong Kong, while its A-shares edged 0.2% lower in Shanghai, as its 2014 profit increased by a less-than-expected 5%.
In other markets
The Shanghai CSI 300 gained 21.70 points, or 0.6%, to 3,971.70
The Taiex index in Taiwan moved lower 115.40 points, or 1.2%, to 9,503.72
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index took on 18.51 points, or 0.5%, to 3,450.10
The Kospi index in Korea inched lower 2.76 points, or 0.1%, to 2,019.80
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 regained 21.08 points, or 0.4%, to 5,854.25
The S&P/ASX index reasserted itself 40.88 points, or 0.7%, to 5,919.94
