Factory statistics, property curbs hit markets

SHANGHAI - Stocks on the Chinese mainland fell for a fourth day after a report showed manufacturing might have contracted for the first time in a year this month and the government expanded measures to prevent a rebound in property prices.

Jiangxi Copper Co dropped 2.8 percent after a preliminary gauge of factory output from HSBC Holdings PLC and Markit Economics slid below the 50 expansion-contraction threshold.

Poly Real Estate Group Co and Agricultural Bank of China Ltd paced declines for financial companies after the banking regulator said it will closely monitor the risks of real-estate loans.