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Feb 21 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended lower on Friday as a rise in new coronavirus cases led investors to focus on the impact of the outbreak on global growth and supply chains on a quiet day for corporate results.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO closed 0.3% lower at 7,139, but recorded its third weekly gain, benefiting from company earnings and domestic expectations for monetary stimulus.
The epidemic has disrupted economic activity in China and put Japan and Singapore on the brink of recession.
"While the virus headcount stories don't carry the same headline gravitas, it's still a focal point while the economic data fears continue to simmer on the back burner," Stephen Innes, Asia Pacific market strategist at AxiCorp, said.
South Korea reported 52 new cases on Friday, underscoring fears of the global reach of the virus. stocks were in the red, with Santos STO.AX and Beach Energy BPT.AX leading the losses as prices fell on fuel demand worries. O/R
Miners BHP Group BHP.AX and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX were down, while Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX dropped 1.2%.
Qantas Airways QAN.AX gave up some of its gains from Thursday after its results and was down 2.4%.
Index heavyweights CSL Ltd CSL.AX and Cochlear Ltd COH.AX were down 0.7% and 4.4%, respectively.
Meanwhile, Caltex Australia CTX.AX saw its best week since early January as the takeover tussle for it turned into a two-horse race. Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended marginally higher at 12,073.34.
It was helped by gains from the local listings of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ANZ.NZ and Westpac Banking Group WBC.NZ , which were up 1.2% and 1.3%, respectively.