The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was down 22.98 points at 2,835.48.

The Shanghai A-share index fell 24.06 points, or 0.80 percent, to 2,969.46, while the Shenzhen A-share index lost 12.77 points, or 1.02 percent, at 1,235.37.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011