Chinese shares close lower Friday

BY    2013-04-14 18:18:18

  BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese shares closed lower on Friday, ahead of the government's release of domestic economic growth figures for March scheduled for Monday.

  The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index went down 0.58 percent, or 12.77 points, to end at 2,206.78. The Shenzhen Component Index lost 0.96 percent, or 85.57 points, to 8,835.15.

  Combined turnover on the two bourses shrank to 111.94 billion yuan (19.19 billion U.S. dollars) from 120.43 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

  About 70 percent of stocks declined in the equity market on Friday.

  The financial sector slumped 1.36 percent. CITIC Securities Co., China's biggest listed brokerage, sank 1.93 percent to 11.72 yuan per share.

  Sinopec, the country's largest oil refiner, shrank 1.53 percent to 7.07 yuan per share. China Shenhua Energy Co., the country's leading coal producer, shed 0.33 percent to 21.45 yuan per share.

  The National Bureau of Statistics plans to issue its March economic growth figures next Monday. Monthly foreign trade figures were released on Wednesday and inflation figures were issued on Tuesday.

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