Hong Kong share market finished session at the lowest level in nearly 13 months on Friday, 01 December 2023, amid raising concerns about the trajectory of the world's second-largest economy after conflicting factory activity data, with a sharper-than-anticipated contraction in the official monthly manufacturing activity index, while private gauge indicated improvement.

The Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) unexpectedly rose to 50.7 in November from a 49.5 reading in October, data showed on Friday. The data stood in contrast to Thursday's official PMI, which showed a decline to 49.4. The 50-point mark separates growth from contraction.

At closing bell, the benchmark Hang Seng Index was down by 212.58 points, or 1.25%, to 16,830.30, the lowest since 10 November 2022. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index declined by 95.81 points, or 1.64%, to 5,761.73.

Among blue chips, libaba Group lost 1.2% to HK$71.85, Tencent Holdings dropped 2.4% to HK$319 and Meituan tumbled 3% to HK$87.90 after a wave of downgrades. EV maker BYD weakened 1.9% to HK$206, while peer Geely Auto dropped 3.4% to HK$8.22.

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