As it happened: Seventh weekly ASX rise finishes under COVID cloud

Summary

• The ASX 200 slipped 1.2% on Friday to 6675.5 as new virus cases on Sydney’s Northern Beaches threatened investor confidence. The market still finished 0.5% higher for the week, its seventh straight week of gains
• NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says 10 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified, linked with the outbreak in Northern Beaches. It brings the cluster to 28, with all other states and territories implementing border restrictions for travellers from the hot spot
• Wall Street’s three main indexes each closed at record highs on optimism over a coronavirus stimulus bill. US futures were subdued and pointing to losses on Wall Street tonight
• Mesoblast fell 36.1%, a2 Milk dropped 23.6%, and QBE Insurance shed 12.5%to lead losses for the top 200 on a string of disappointing company updates