Chinese shares advanced on Friday, though it pared the benchmark index's worst start to the year since 2010 as losses of health-care companies overshadowed gains by utilities. The Shanghai Composite Index recorded a modest gain rising less than 0.1% to 2,236.62 and it has dropped by 1.4% this year, while the CSI 300 Index tumbled 0.2% to 2,495.08.