Chinese shares flat in morning trade

SHANGHAI: Chinese shares were flat in morning trade Friday, as investors treaded cautiously awaiting further monetary easing from the government after inflation edged down in December, dealers said.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, added 0.08 percent, or 1.72 points, to 2,276.73.

China's consumer price index (CPI), a key gauge of inflation, rose 4.1 percent year-on-year in December, the slowest in more than a year, the government said Thursday, compared with 4.2 percent in November.