China stocks close lower, tracking losses on external markets

BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Dragged down by lackluster external markets, Chinese stocks closed lower on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 1.22 percent, or 25.13 points, to 2,030.29.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 8,186.06, down 97.5 points, or 1.18 percent.

Combined turnover expanded slightly to 72.99 billion yuan (11.58 billion U.S. dollars) from 72.7 billion yuan the previous trading day.

Losers outnumbered gainers by 890 to 74 in Shanghai and by 1335 to 170 in Shenzhen.

Both the U.S. and European markets witnessed losses overnight due to persistent concerns about the looming fiscal cliff in the United States.

On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 185.23 points, or 1.45 percent, to end at 12,570.95. The Standard & Poor's 500 fell 19.04 points, or 1.39 percent, to 1,355.49. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 37.08 points, or 1.29 percent, to 2,846. 81.

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