Jittery investors send market lower
26/10/2005 10:36
Leo Zhang/Shanghai Daily news
Shanghai shares dipped
yesterday as investors trimmed positions amid worries companies involved in
share-structure overhauls may pay less compensation. The Shanghai Composite
Index, which groups yuan-denominated A shares and foreign-currency B shares, was
down 1.69 percent to 1,121.92. The A-share index slumped 1.67 percent to
1,179.48 while the B-share index slid 2.86 percent to 61.33. "It seemed major
shareholders were a bit stingy in offering bonus equity or other incentives,"
said Liu Yu, an Orient Securities Co trader. "Investors sold shares amid jitters
the trend may continue, which will dent their benefits." Shanghai-listed
companies, which unveiled proposals to dispose of state stockholdings this week,
churned out an average 2.78 free shares for every 10 held to minority equity
holders, down from 3 shares distributed by predecessors, according to data from
the Shanghai Stock Exchange. China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, Asia's
biggest oil refiner, eased 2.05 percent to 3.82 yuan (47 US cents). Jiangxi
Copper Co, China's biggest producer of the metal, retreated 1.72 percent to 5.14
yuan. Steelmakers tumbled on estimated higher raw-material charges after an
industry report said China's demand for iron ore may pick up this
year. Chinese iron ore imports may rise 20 percent this year to 250 million
metric tons as steelmakers boost production capacity, the China Metallurgical
and Mining Association said yesterday. Meanwhile, Wuhan Iron & Steel Co,
China's No. 3 steelmaker, shed 1.40 percent to 3.51 percent.
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