Mainland index falls most in five weeks

SHANGHAI - The mainland's stocks fell the most in five weeks, the steepest decline among global indexes, on concern bank lending may slow and interest rates will rise as inflation accelerates.

Industrial Bank Co dropped 2.4 percent after predicting growth in the bank's new lending will almost halve this year. Poly Real Estate Group Co lost 2.4 percent. Jiangxi Copper Co and Zijin Mining Group Co fell at least 2.7 percent on lower metal prices.

The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 73.63, or 2.4 percent, to 3023.37 at the close, the biggest decline since Jan 26. The CSI 300 Index fell 2.5 percent to 3250.57. The Shanghai index declined the most among the 93 worldwide indexes tracked by Bloomberg.