HONG KONG: Hong Kong stocks ended weaker on Friday to finish the week lower, as worries persisted over the impact from the coronavirus outbreak even as Beijing unveiled stimulus to shore up the world’s second-largest economy.

The Hang Seng index closed 1.1% lower at 27,308.81, while the China Enterprises Index lost 1.1% to 10,790.84 points.

China reported an uptick in new cases of coronavirus on Friday although the rise in infections remained at its slowest pace since January, a downward trend which the World Health Organization has called encouraging.

The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares dipped 0.7%, while the IT sector dipped 1.72%, the financial sector ended 0.8% lower and the property sector dipped 1.5%.

The top gainer on the Hang Seng was Hengan International Group Company Ltd, which gained 0.58%, while the biggest loser was Sands China Ltd, which fell 3.39%.

The top gainers among H-shares were China Gas Holdings Ltd up 1%, followed by Anhui Conch Cement Co Ltd , gaining 0.71% and Hengan International Group Company Ltd, up by 0.58%. The three biggest H-shares percentage decliners were China Resources Beer Holdings Co Ltd, which ended down 4.05%, Sunac China Holdings Ltd, which fell 3.03% and CITIC Ltd, down by 2.52%.—Reuters