Hong Kong stocks close higher Friday

Hong Kong's stock market ended higher Friday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 1.28 percent to close at 23,350.03 points.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 1.15 percent to end at 7,699.76 points, and the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 1 percent to end at 4,499 points.

Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, on Thursday warned that any U.S. interference in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with the Iranian armed forces' "decisive and swift" response.

In a statement carried by Iranian media, the headquarters stressed that the strait is not the "aggressive U.S. playground", but the territory of Iran's "undisputed sovereignty", with its security and stability considered a red line for the Iranian military.

It stressed that all oil tankers and commercial vessels seeking to pass through the strait must use routes designated by Iran, warning that any non-compliance and use of other routes, or disregard for Iran's navigation protocols, will face the Iranian armed forces' "immediate and decisive" response, and endanger the violating vessels' safety.

The headquarters said that Iran considers any U.S. attempt to interfere in security affairs or cause disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as a threat against its national security, and will respond to it "swiftly and decisively."

It emphasized that the continued presence of U.S. manned and unmanned fighter aircraft over the waterway will cause insecurity, adding that Iran will not hesitate to take the necessary actions to "crush any aggression" by the U.S. forces and their supporters to protect its sovereignty over the strait.

Iran has tightened its grip on the strait since Feb 28, 2026, when it barred safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.