Hong Kong's Hang Seng index traded lower during most of Thursday's session but retreated shortly before close and managed to finish in positive area. The index added 0.22% or 44.93 points and settled at 20,901.56. Although PBOC announced Agricultural Bank of China will cut reserve ratio requirement to boost lending in rural areas, stock gains were limited by HSBC PMI data which indicated largest contraction in manufacturing industry since November.