Miners see best week since 2016 Financials fall for second...

• Miners see best week since 2016
• Financials fall for second straight week
• Energy stocks fall alongside dropping crude

(Updates to close)

Australian shares closed lower on Friday as global risk sentiment was hit after tensions between the United States and China heightened over the imposition of a new law in Hong Kong.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) ended 0.96% lower at 5,497. For the week, it gained 1.7%.

The United States warned China against imposing a new national security law on Hong Kong, saying any dilution of the city's autonomy could lead to a withdrawal of the favourable U.S. trading terms that have helped Hong Kong maintain its position as a global financial centre.

Souring relations between Beijing and Washington has also made investors nervous about the Phase 1 trade deal signed earlier this year.

The Australian benchmark though closed higher for a fourth straight week.

Recent gains by the Aussie benchmark can seem odd given underlying economic factors remain dire, while the increased liquidity in markets has clearly spilled over into assets like stocks, said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.

Among sectors and stocks, the sub-index for miners .AXMM fell 0.8% but gained more than 6% for the week, its best weekly performance in over three years, as iron ore prices gained.

Global miners Rio Tinto (RIO) and BHP Group (BHP) ended 2% and 0.6% lower, respectively.

Financial stocks .AXFJ declined, with the "big four" banks falling in the range of 0.6% and 1.2%. Its sub-index fell for the second consecutive week.

Australia has made the deepest dividend cuts globally this year, turning foreign investors wary of the country's normally high-yielding firms.

Healthcare stocks .AXHJ fell to a more than three-week low, with heavyweight CSL Ltd (CSL) dropping 2.4%.

Energy stocks .AXEJ dropped over 2% following a drop in oil prices.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) fell to end the week 0.6% lower. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp (FPH) closed 2.7% lower.