Chinese shares opened 0.86 percent lower on Friday, in reaction to a Wall Street fall overnight.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, fell 0.86 percent to 1,984.26 at the opening.

The smaller Shenzhen index was down 0.41 percent to open at 7,101.77 points.

Wall Street stock indices lost ground on Thursday, as carmakers asked US Congress for a federal bail-out and oil prices fell to their lowest level in four years.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2008)