China blue-chip index ends lower after Beijing sets conservative growth target

SHANGHAI: China's blue-chip stocks closed slightly lower on Friday, as investors digested the modest annual growth target set in the premier's annual work report, although tech shares rebounded on a stronger commitment to supporting home-grown technology.

The blue-chip CSI300 index ended down 0.3% at 5,262.80, while the Shanghai Composite Index was nearly unchanged at 3,501.99.