China stocks close lower Monday

Chinese shares closed lower on Monday, dragged down by lackluster performances by the coal and financial sectors, as well as growth enterprises.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.51 percent to finish at 2,229.27 points. The Shenzhen Component Index fell 1.55 percent to close at 7,934.81 points.

Total turnover on the two bourses shrank to 200.63 billion yuan (32.54 billion U.S. dollars) from 213.4 billion yuan the previous trading day.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, dipped 1.23 percent to end at 1,443.81 points.

Weighted stocks in the coal and the financial sectors led Monday's declines, down 1.64 percent and 1.47 percent, respectively. Shanxi-based Wintime Energy Co., Ltd. fell 5.46 percent to 4.85 yuan per share, while Guoyuan Securities Company Limited dived 3.79 percent.

However, altogether 36 stocks managed to rise by the daily limit of 10 percent on the two bourses, and another 68 gained more than 5 percent. China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited rallied 9.88 percent to finish at 2.78 yuan per share.