Mainland and Hong Kong stocks ended up retreating on Friday as geopolitical temperatures in the Middle East show signs of heating up again.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 232 points, or 0.9 percent, to 26,393 on turnover of HK$279.75 billion.

The China enterprises index was 30 points, or 0.3 percent, down at 8,889 while the tech index was 18 points, or 0.4 percent, down at 5,102.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index closed flat at 4,179 on turnover of 1.33 trillion yuan.

The Shenzhen Component Index was down 78 points, or 0.5 percent, at 15,563 on turnover of 1.72 trillion yuan while the ChiNext Index was down 36 points, or one percent, at 3,796 on turnover of 782.4 billion yuan.

Commercial aerospace and robotics stocks led gainers while the batteries, wind power and pork sectors declined.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei ended 120 points, or 0.19 percent, down at 62,713 for the day but up 4.5 percent for the week.

In Seoul, the Kospi ended almost eight points, or 0.11 percent, up at a new peak of 7,498 for the day and more than 12 percent higher for the week, driven by an AI-led, record-breaking surge in chip stocks.

"The focus has still been on the strength of the earnings coming out of the US," said Kerry Craig, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management.

He said markets were also encouraged by efforts from both camps to reach ⁠a temporary deal to allow traffic through the Strait of Hormuz while they discuss a fuller peace settlement. (Reuters/Xinhua)


Edited by Tony Sabine