Chinese shares closed 1.26 percent lower on Friday as overnight Wall Street losses put a damper on the domestic market, analysts said.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dropped 1.26 percent, or 28.07 points to close at 2,193.01. The Shenzhen Component Index was up 0.09 percent, or 7.61 points to 8,259.89.

The combined turnover of the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses shrinked to 159.88 billion yuan from 231.1 billion yuan on Thursday.

Gains led losses by 316 to 545 in Shanghai and 250 to 485 in Shenzhen.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2009)