SHANGHAI—Chinese shares ended mixed Thursday as profit-taking investors unloaded their stocks on lower lending figures in October.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index shed 2.25 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 3,172.95. The Shenzhen Composite Index for China's second exchange edged up 0.5 percent to 1,141.33.
Analysts said the benchmark was facing pressure around the psychologically important level of 3,200 after an eight-day rally ended Wednesday.
"Technically, the market needed an excuse to fall after advancing for so many days," said Mao Sheng, an analyst for Huaxi Securities in the western city of Chengdu.
But Mao said the upward tendency of the market remained unchanged as the country's economic revival is on track.
Bank shares lost after the central bank Wednesday reported new lending in October fell to the lowest in the year. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China's biggest commercial lender, slipped 0.8 percent to 5.31 yuan. Bank of China Ltd. and China Construction Bank Ltd. both declined by 0.5 percent -- BOC to 4.17 yuan and CCB to 5.95 yuan.
Consumer-goods rose again on higher retail sales for October.
Qingdao Haier Co., a major appliance maker, added 4.5 percent to 21.55 yuan, while another appliance giant Sichuan Changhong Electric Co. soared the daily maximum of 10 percent to 5.93 yuan.
Chinese liquor maker Kweichow Moutai Co. edged up 1.9 percent to 166.5 yuan, while Jiugui Liquor Co. advanced 5.2 percent to 14.88 yuan.
Steel shares were boosted after Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., the country's biggest steel producer, raised product prices. Baosteel gained 3 percent to 7.65 yuan and Wuhan Iron and Steel Co. jumped 2.1 percent to 7.93 yuan.
In currency markets, the yuan strengthened to 6.8263 to the U.S. dollar, up from Wednesday's close of 6.8264.
