Mainland stocks closed roughly flat on Friday but ended the week higher, as onshore investors rebuilt positions after the Lunar New Year holiday.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index ended the day up 249 points, or 0.95 percent, at 26,630.

The China enterprises index was up 45 points, or 0.51 percent, at 8,859. The tech index was up 28 points, or 0.56 percent, at 5,137 for the day but finished the week down 1.4 percent.

The recent pullback in the tech index suggests some investment flows may be shifting towards consumer ⁠stocks, UBS analysts said, noting that sentiment remains positive on low valuations, reflation trades, and early strength in sectors such as baijiu, dairy and other staples.

On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended up just over 16 points, or 0.39 percent, at 4,162.

The Shenzhen Component Index was closer to nine points, or 0.06 percent, lower at 14,495 while the ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, lost 34 points, or 1.04 percent, to close at 3,310.

In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei share average closed at a record high on Friday, posting its biggest monthly gain in four months, as investors bet on ⁠corporate earnings strength.

The Nikkei reversed early losses to end up nearly 97 points, or 0.16 percent, at 58,850, bringing its gains for February to 10.4 percent – its strongest monthly performance since October 2025.

South Korean shares fell one percent for the day on heavy foreign selling as ⁠overnight losses in US technology stocks triggered profit-booking, but they still posted a third straight rise on the month.

The benchmark Kospi closed down 63 points at 6,244, after falling as much 2.4 percent and rising up to 0.6 percent in volatile intra-day trade. The index is up 20 percent in February, ⁠compared to a 24 percent gain in January. (Reuters/Xinhua)


Edited by Aaron Tam