Chinese shares slid at Friday's opening, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.48 percent to open at 2,979.74 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index shed 0.51 percent, to open at 12,058.7 points.

Huaneng, China's biggest listed electricity producer, added 0.41 percent to 7.32 yuan as it said Friday it might see a return to profit in 2009 on lower fuel price and increased revenue after a tariff adjustment.

China Life, the nation's largest life insurer, lost 0.7 percent to 27.11 yuan despite its forecast of a 50-percent investment-boosted profit growth in 2009.

Minmetals Development Co., Ltd, the nation's leading non-ferrous metal producer, declined 1.1 percent to 17.18 yuan. The company Friday said its profit slumped at least 50 percent in 2009 year on year as the global economic crisis dampened commodity prices.