A key index of Chinese stocks was heading for its lowest close in more than two years on Thursday, as equities across Asia followed Wall Street lower.
The CSI 300 index of major listed companies in Shenzhen and Shanghai was down 2.2 per cent and tracking toward its lowest finish since March 2016, with the energy and healthcare segments posting the biggest declines. The index is now down almost 23 per cent so far this year and more than 9 per cent this month alone.
The move came amid broad declines across Asia-Pacific after Wall Street’s rebound from last week’s global equity rout slowed overnight. The Hang Seng in Hong was down 0.7 per cent while the Topix in Tokyo shed 0.5 per cent and Seoul’s Kopsi Composite dropped 0.9 per cent.