China's share prices plummeted Monday against speculation over possibility of further interest rate hike, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 3.68 percent, or 150.36 points, to close at 3,941.08.

The key Shanghai index, which covers both A- and B-shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, was traded between 3,912.42 and 4,131.13 on turnover of 143.3 billion yuan (US$18.9 billion).

The Shenzhen Component Index on the nation's smaller bourse fell 4.5 percent, or 616.46 points,to end at 13,109.26 on turnover of 75.56 billion yuan (US$9.9 billion).

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2007)