HONG KONG (Nikkei Markets) -- Hong Kong stocks eked out a sixth weekly advance in seven weeks on the back of gains for Tencent Holdings and Hengan International Group, although they couldn't keep up with domestic Chinese equities after MSCI said it will add A-shares to its global benchmarks.
The Hang Seng Index ended little changed at 25,670.05 on Friday, carving out a 0.2% weekly increase. Paper-products maker Hengan, among the gauge's worst performers over the past year, jumped 8.8% this week after plumbing multi-year lows earlier this month. Heavyweight Tencent and Geely Automobile Holdings climbed at least 2.8% over the five-day period amid earnings-related optimism. On Friday, Hengan slid 1.1% and Tencent gave up 0.5% while the broader market struggled for direction. Geely added 0.7% after its parent Zhejiang Geely Holding Group agreed on Friday to purchase a 49.9% stake in Malaysia's Proton Holdings and 51% in the U.K.'s Lotus, both owned by Malaysian automotive group DRB-Hicom, for a total of $235 million.
