Chinese share prices closed almost flat on Thursday, after the newly announced government support package failed to create confidence that was enough to offset overnight losses on Wall Street.

The Shanghai Composite Index lost 8.66 points, or 0.45 percent, to 1,920.21. The Shenzhen Component Index slipped 0.2 percent to 6,798.53, down 13.34 points.

Combined turnover expanded to 124.9 billion yuan (US$18.27 billion) from 97.2 billion yuan the previous trading day.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2009)