Shanghai Composite Index dropped 136.69, or 5.1 percent, to close at 2,559.93, the lowest since May 4, 2009.

The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 136.69, or 5.1 percent, to close at 2,559.93, the lowest since May 4, 2009. Today’s decline is the biggest since Aug. 31, when the gauge fell 6.7 percent on concern a slowdown in lending growth would slow economic growth. The CSI 300 Index retreated 153.31, or 5.4 percent, to 2,714.72.


The Shanghai index has lost 22 percent this year, the world’s fourth-worst performer among the 93 gauges tracked by Bloomberg, on concern the government will keep tightening monetary policy to contain inflation and avert asset bubbles. The measure on May 11 entered a bear market after falling 21 percent from its Nov. 23 high.