Chinese shares drop 0.14% at midday

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese equities ended Thursday's morning session 0.14 percent lower led by coal and real estate stocks.

The Shanghai composite index slid 3.52 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 2,532.54, while the Shenzhen Component Index lost 31.13 points, or 0.32 percent, to 9,693.45.

Losses outnumbered gains by 426 to 374 in Shanghai and 434 to 241 in Shenzhen. Combined turnover was 150 billion yuan (21.96 billion U.S. dollars).

The National Bureau of Statistics figure showed Thursday that China's economy expanded by 6.1 percent year on year in the first quarter, the slowest in the past 10 years.

Chinese shares up 2.31% at midday

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese shares ended Monday's morning session, passing 2,500 points, a record high in nearly eight months, boosted by positive news over the weekend.

The Shanghai Composite Index gained 56.57 points, or 2.31 percent, to finish at 2,500.80. The Shenzhen Component Index rose 173.85 points, or 1.86 percent, to 9,519.29.

The People's Bank of China, the central bank, announced Saturday new yuan-denominated loans increased 1.89 trillion yuan in March. It was the third straight month that new loans exceeded 1 trillion yuan.

Analysts said the increase was boosted by the 4-trillion-yuan stimulus plan and showed the possibility of a faster economic recovery in China compared with other countries.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Saturday that the Chinese economy showed signs of better than expected positive changes in the first quarter as a result of the economic stimulus package adopted by China.

Petrochemical shares rose because of the market talk that the government would unveil details of the plan to revive the industry. PetroChina rose 3.22 percent to close at 11.85 yuan. Sinopec gained 4.12 percent to 9.36 yuan.

China Shenhua Energy Co. the country's largest coal producer, jumped 9.47 percent to 24.97 yuan on the speculation coal prices will be raised. Media reports said Chinese coal producers may see a 20 percent increase in prices from power generators.

Chinese shares up at midday as medical shares get boost from reform plan

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese equities were 0.49 percent higher at midday Tuesday, led by pharmaceutical and medical shares, after the government announced long-anticipated healthcare reform plans.

The Shanghai Composite Index gained 11.80 points, or 0.49 percent, to finish the morning session at 2,431.57. The Shenzhen Component Index fell 10.91 points, or 0.12 percent, to 9,233.75.

China unveiled a blueprint for healthcare reform over the next decade, kicking off the much-anticipated plan to fix the ailing medical system and ensure fair and affordable care for all 1.3 billion citizens.

The reform plan was a strong boost to medical shares, as the beefed-up government spending was expected to support the business of pharmaceutical companies and medical instrument producers, said analysts.

Wandong Medical, the leading X-ray equipment maker in China, rose 3.87 percent to 8.59 yuan (1.26 U.S. dollars). Jilin Pharmacyjumped 2.99 percent to 8.61 yuan and Renhe Pharmacy rose 8.81 percent to 12.84 yuan.

Coal shares performed strongly on word that coal inventories had begun to fall after major power plants increased coal consumption.

China Shenhua, the nation's biggest coal producer, rose 1.78 percent to 22.30 yuan. China National Coal Group, the second-largest producer, was up 3.92 percent to 9.55 yuan.

Real estate shares fell on profit-taking. Poly Real Estate fell2.03 percent to 22.63 yuan. China Vanke ended 0.69 percent down at8.61 yuan.