Chinese equities dropped 0.69 percent on Monday, dragged by oil and metal stocks.

The Shanghai Composite Index lost 16.4 points, or 0.69 percent to 2,358.04. The Shenzhen Component Index was down by 83.73 points, or 0.93 percent to 8,910.42.

Losses outnumbered gains by 424 to 418 in Shanghai but gains outnumbered losses by 448 to 287 in Shenzhen.

Combined turnover expanded to 191.9 billion yuan (US$28.1 billion) from 183.68 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2009)