Equities end down on realty concerns

SHANGHAI: Equities declined after a three-week high as banks retreated amid concern a government crackdown on property speculation will lower demand for mortgages.

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co and China CITIC Bank Corp slid more than 1 percent after the government said it would curb credit for home purchases.

The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 27.97, or 0.85 percent, to 3254.22 at the close, erasing a 0.4 percent gain. The CSI 300 Index lost 0.63 percent to 3541.73.