Chinese equities ended 0.24 percent lower Friday as concern over domestic corporate profits overshadowed the global markets rally.
As the "two sessions" (the annual meetings of national legislative and advisory bodies) closed, investors' attention shifted from the possibility of another economic stimulus package to focus on corporate conditions, Nanjing Securities analyst Wen Lijun said.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slid 5.03 points to 2,128.85. The Shenzhen Component Index fell 0.73 percent, or 57.77 points, to 7,875.74.
The Shanghai index opened 0.68 percent higher, tracking rallies on Wall Street and Asian markets, and rose after Premier Wen Jiabao told a press conference that China had plans ready if the global and domestic downturn worsened. He said China could roll out a new stimulus package at any time.
Combined turnover was 109.1 billion yuan (16 billion U.S. dollars), slightly up from 108.3 billion yuan on Thursday. Losses outnumbered gains by 612 to 252 in Shanghai and 517 to 219 in Shenzhen.
Brokerage shares fell across the board. CITIC Securities fell 1.71 percent to 21.3 yuan after shareholder China Life trimmed its stake. Haitong Securites dropped 3.3 percent to 11.72 yuan.
Shares of coal producers and new energy providers gained on a rebound in world crude oil prices, as investors believed rising oil prices would boost demand for alternative resources, analysts said.
Overnight, light, sweet crude for April delivery rose 4.70 U.S. dollars to 47.03 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Xinjiang Goldwind Science and Technology, which makes equipment for wind power projects, jumped 6.27 percent to 35.1 yuan. Guangdong No. 2 Hydropower Engineering Company added 0.23 percent to 8.73 yuan.
Datong Coal Industry gained 1.03 percent to 14.69 yuan. China Shenhua Energy, the country's largest coal producer, edged up 0.05 percent to 18.83 yuan.
(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2009)
