(Updates to the close)

SHANGHAI, Aug 23 (Reuters) - China stocks ended higher

on Friday after three straight sessions of losses, while Hong

Kong shares fell in conjunction with regional peers amid caution

ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech.

Powell is scheduled to speak at a central bank event in

Jackson Hole, Wyoming, later on Friday, where global investors

will tune in to gauge the extent and timing of U.S. rate cuts.

** At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up

0.2% at 2,854.37 points.

** The blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.42%, with

its financial sector sub-index higher by 1.18%, the

consumer staples sector down 0.04%, the real estate

index down 0.19% and the healthcare sub-index

down 0.21%.

** The smaller Shenzhen index ended up 0.08% and the

start-up board ChiNext Composite index was unchanged.

** Electric vehicle shares led losses this week amid rising

trade tensions between China and the European Union, with a

gauge measuring the sector falling 2.4% for the

week to the lowest level in more than four years.

** China's Commerce Ministry

met

with automakers and industry associations on Friday to

discuss raising import tariffs on large-engined gasoline

vehicles, sounding a warning as the European Union nears a

tariff decision on Chinese electric cars.

** At the close of trade, the Hang Seng index was

down 28.90 points or 0.16% at 17,612.10. The Hang Seng China

Enterprises index fell 0.08% to 6,219.24.

** The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares

rose 0.6%, while the IT sector dipped 0.56%,

the financial sector ended 0.45% higher and the property

sector dipped 0.45%.

** The top gainer on the Hang Seng was Ping An Insurance

Group Co of China Ltd, which gained 3.64%, while the

biggest loser was NetEase Inc ( NTES ), which fell 10.28%.

** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index

was weaker by 0.05%, while Japan's Nikkei index

closed up 0.4%.

** The yuan was quoted at 7.1365 per U.S. dollar

at 0845 GMT, 0.16% firmer than the previous close of 7.148.