Hong Kong stocks concluded the week with marginal gains, buoyed by optimism that the US Federal Reserve could reduce interest rates sooner than expected.

The Hang Seng Index added 0.32%, or 70.98 points, to close Friday's session at 21,980.74. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 0.29%, or 23.69 points, to 8,080.54.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack hinted at rate cuts as early as June if US President Donald Trump's tariff policies lead to higher unemployment and increased inflation, Bloomberg News reported.

However, both Fed officials emphasized that rates would remain at their current levels until more concrete data becomes available regarding the economic ramifications of Trump's policies on trade, immigration, and regulation.

Meanwhile, China has refuted claims of tariff-related talks with the US after Washington asserted that negotiations are underway, Reuters reported. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun called the reports "false news" in a press briefing.

In corporate news, Hong Kong shares of chipmakers SMIC (HKG:0981, SHA:688981) and Hua Hong Semiconductor (HKG:1347, SHA:688347) fell 3% and 6%, respectively, following reports that China waived its retaliatory 125% levy on some semiconductor chip imports from the US.