China's blue-chip stocks ended lower on Tuesday as Apple warned that it was unlikely to meet its March quarter sales forecast as the coronavirus slowed production and weakened demand in China. The blue-chip CSI300 index closed 0.5% lower, with its financial sector sub-index shedding 1%. The Shanghai Composite index was flat at 2,984.97.

Manufacturing facilities in China that produce Apple's iPhone and other electronics have begun to reopen, but they are ramping up more slowly than expected, Apple said. That will mean fewer iPhones available for sale around the world. The number of new cases in mainland China fell below 2,000 on Tuesday for the first time since January, but the virus remains far from contained, as its economic impact spreads. South Korea has announced an economic emergency.

The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on China's various industries will mainly show up in February, a vice chairman of the country's state assets regulator said, as containment measures disrupt production and supply chains. Bohai Securities warned that policymakers would be constrained by the risk of inflation. This comes on the heels of a recent rally after investors bet on policy support.

After a broad-based rally on Monday, it's very likely that performance of stocks in different industries would vary, the brokerage said in its note. The tech-heavy start-up board index ChiNextP extended its climb to end 1.1% higher, a more than three-year high. Investors expect China's continued stimulus to benefit those firms more.

At 0720 GMT, the yuan was quoted at 7.0025 per US dollar, 0.31% weaker than the previous close of 6.9813. Among shares, the largest percentage gainers on the main Shanghai Composite index were Shandong Jinjing Science & Technology Stock Co Ltd, up 10.1%, and Shanghai Feilo Acoustics Co Ltd, gaining 10.06%

The largest percentage losers were Jiangsu Boxin Investing & Holdings Co Ltd down 10.01% and Sino-Agri Leading Biosciences Co Ltd losing 8.26%.