Hong Kong stocks end week lower as global coronavirus cases cross 1mn

• The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares dipped 2.5pc, while the IT sector fell 1.08pc, the financial sector ended 0.59pc lower and the property sector dipped 0.13pc.
• Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was weaker by 0.46pc, while Japan's Nikkei index closed up 0.01pc.

Hong Kong stocks slipped on Friday to end the week lower, as risk-averse sentiment strengthened on continued spread of the coronavirus with infections surpassing one million globally.

At the close of trade, the Hang Seng index was down 43.95 points, or 0.19pc, at 23,236.11. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index fell 0.37pc to 9,491.1.

The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares dipped 2.5pc, while the IT sector fell 1.08pc, the financial sector ended 0.59pc lower and the property sector dipped 0.13pc.

The top gainer on the Hang Seng was China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd, which rose 5.91pc, while the biggest loser was PetroChina Co Ltd, which fell 5.56pc.

For the week, HSI lost 1.1pc, while HSCE shed 0.1pc.

Global coronavirus cases surpassed 1 million on Thursday with more than 52,000 deaths, as the pandemic further exploded in the United States and the death toll climbed in Spain and Italy, according to a Reuters tally of official data.

Latest survey of China's economy pointed to more signs of damage from the pandemic.

China's services sector struggled to get back on its feet in March after a brutal month of unprecedented shop closures and public lockdown amid the outbreak, a private survey showed.

Business activity in Hong Kong deteriorated further in March, a private survey showed, as demand, output and confidence plunged amid the deepening pandemic.

Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was weaker by 0.46pc, while Japan's Nikkei index closed up 0.01pc.

The yuan was quoted at 7.0889 per US dollar at 08:15 GMT, 0.1pc weaker than the previous close of 7.0821.

At close, China's A-shares were trading at a premium of 27.21pc over Hong Kong-listed H-shares.