Stocks fall on growth concerns

An investor checks stock prices at a brokerage in Fuyang, Anhui province. China's stocks fell amid concern the government's efforts to boost consumption are inadequate.[Lu Qijian/For China Daily]

China's stocks fell amid concern the government's efforts to make domestic consumption and services a bigger part of the economy will not be fast enough to offset sluggish demand for industrial goods and commodities.

The Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.5 percent to 3,455.50 at the close, erasing a gain of as much as 0.9 percent. Industrial and material companies posted the steepest losses among sectors, with Metallurgical Corp of China and China Minmetals Rare Earth Co sliding more than 4 percent.

Data this week showed China's factory-gate prices dropping for the 45th straight month.

The Chinese government is trying to boost the role of privately owned technology and service businesses, while downsizing State-owned industrial and financial giants.

As stabilizing inflation and a moderation in import declines point to strength in consumer spending, such growth is not quick enough to offset the declines in the nation's old drivers of manufacturing, exports and construction.

"The economic transformation is on track but it is going to require time and things such as the SOE reform are likely to require substantial effort," said Gerry Alfonso, a Shanghai-based trader at Shenwan Hongyuan Group Co. "It will happen but it won't happen overnight. Investors are looking into sectors that are likely to do well in the short to mid-term and a significant amount of those stocks are in the new economy space."

The CSI 300 Index dropped 0.4 percent. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index fell for a sixth day. Turnover plunged to the lowest level in a month in Shanghai on Wednesday, while trading volumes were 35 percent below the 30-day average on Thursday.

A gauge of industrial companies in the CSI 300 slid 1.1 percent for the steepest loss among 10 groups. Shanghai Electric Group Co declined 4.4 percent, shipbuilder China CSSC Holdings Ltd fell 2.1 percent and China State Construction Engineering Corp retreated 1.6 percent.

An early rally for Chinese mainland stocks on Thursday petered out as brokerages pared gains. Securities firms rose amid speculation lawmakers will approve a new registration-system for initial public offerings, boosting their earnings outlook. Western Securities Co advanced 1.8 percent, trimming an advance of as much as 8.6 percent.

China's stock exchanges will have as long as two years to adopt the new registration system for IPOs, after it receives approval from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council said in a statement on Wednesday.

The nation currently relies on the securities regulator to act as a gatekeeper for offerings, with a listing-review committee examining each application.