At closing bell, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.47%, or 16.29 points, to 3,447.99. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, fell 0.53%, or 12.95 points, to 2,423.97. The blue-chip CSI300 index edged up 0.01%, or 0.72 point, to 4,934.46.
The spread of the Delta variant from the mainland's coast to inland cities prompted authorities to implement strict measures including mass testing. China reported 90 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the mainland for Aug. 2. While that was down from 98 a day earlier, the number of locally transmitted infections rose to 61 from 55 cases a day earlier. The central city of Wuhan, where the virus causing COVID-19 first surfaced in late 2019, announced mass testing of all residents following the detection of three domestically transmitted cases in the city. The rise of Delta variant infections poses economic risks and fresh challenges for authorities who have for months managed to avert any widespread outbreak of the coronavirus.
Online gaming stocks tumbled after state media branded online gaming "opium" and likened it to a drug. Accusations of spiritual opium sent shares of the companies in the gaming industry tumbling amid fears a new regulatory chapter was about to begin.
CURRENCY NEWS: China yuan softened against the dollar on Tuesday, despite lower mid-point fixing by central bank, amid worries over spreading domestic COVID-19 cases of the Delta variant. Prior to market opening, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the midpoint rate at 6.461 per dollar, slightly firmer than the previous fix of 6.466. In the spot market, onshore yuan opened at 6.4624 per dollar and was changing hands at 6.4652 at midday, 32 pips softer than Monday's late session close. The offshore yuan was slightly weaker at 6.4657 per dollar.
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