Chinese shares dropped 1.97 percent on Friday, the month's last trading day.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 1.97 percent, or 34.82 points, to close at 1,728.79. The Shenzhen index was down 1.19 percent, or 70.33 points, to close at 5,839.33 points.
The combined turnover was 35.23 billion yuan (5.03 billion U.S. dollars), compared with 49.35 billion yuan on the previous trading day. Losses outnumbered gains by 656 to 199 in Shanghai and 576 to 151 in Shenzhen.
(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2008)
