Material shares hit markets

SHANGHAI - Stocks on the Chinese mainland fell on Thursday, driving the benchmark index down by the most in two weeks.

The decline came on concern the government's policy-tightening measures are slowing the economy without containing inflation.

Jiangxi Copper Co paced declines for material companies. China Vanke Co and Poly Real Estate Group Co fell after the 21st Century Business Herald said Shenzhen may announce new measures to curb home prices. Shanghai Electric Power Co slid the most this month after the National Energy Administration said power consumption growth slowed.