HSI ends down 149 pts at 23,965; turnover at HK$80.4bn

   HK stocks closed weaker on Friday following the 34-point gain of the Dow overnight, which has risen for ninth consecutive trading days. The benchmark index opened unchanged at 24,115. It then gradually moved lower, and at one stage to an intra-day low of 23,958.
  The Hang Seng Index ended down 149 points or 0.6% to 23,965. The H-share index fell 102 points or 1% to 10,418. Turnover decreased slightly to HK$80.4 billion from HK$81.8 billion on Thursday.  
  The northbound quota balance of the "Shanghai-HK Connect" program was RMB12.637 billion, accounting for 97.2% of the daily allowed quota of RMB13 billion. The southbound quota balance was RMB9.937 billion, accounting for 94.6% of the daily allowed quota of RMB10.5 billion.
  As for the Shenzhen-HK Connect, the northbound quota balance was RMB12.421 billion, accounting for 95.5% of the daily allowed quota of RMB13 billion. The southbound quota balance was RMB10.131 billion, accounting for 96.5% of the daily allowed quota of RMB10.5 billion.
  AIA (01299) dipped 0.6% to HK$48.75 even though the insurer has reported better-than-expected results, with value of new business rising 28% to US$2.75 billion.
  JP Morgan has earlier published a research report, expecting CK Hutchison (00001) to take more action to unlock CK Property (01113) and Power Assets (PAH)(00006). CKH, CKP and PAH rose 2.2%, 0.2% and 0.3% to HK$94.5, HK$53.45 and HK$69.75. 
  Esprit (00330) soared 7.4% to HK$7.29 after Deutsche Bank's rating and target price upgrade.