Chinese shares went down 0.46 percent on Thursday on profit-taking, with the benchmark index falling below the 2100-point mark.

After gaining for three consecutive days, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index went higher on mid-day trading to 2149.47 points on strong steel, financial and real estate stocks. It fell in the afternoon session to close at 2098.02 points, down 9.73 points.

Shenzhen Component Index closed down 0.86 percent, or 64.21 points to 7413.42 points.

The combined turnover rose to 189.49 billion yuan (US$27.87 billion) from Wednesday's 169.3 billion yuan.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2009)