Equities decline as small caps retreat

Chinese mainland stocks gave back early gains and ended lower on Thursday, as a retreat in small-caps in afternoon trading eclipsed a sharp rebound in resource shares.

The CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen fell 0.6 percent, to 3,759.43 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3 percent, to 3,635.55 points.

Trading in the market, which has bounced over 20 percent from its August low hit during the summer market rout, has become choppier ahead of a batch of initial public offerings that will kick off next week.