Banking shares lead decline on mainland bourses

BEIJING - Share prices on the Chinese mainland markets ended lower to post a third consecutive session of losses on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai index hitting a six-month low, even as data showed the country's trade performance in January exceeded expectations.

Investors dumped blue chips, including energy and banking firms, as well as infrastructure and property companies.

"As the Chinese New Year is coming, A-shares tend to be sold off," said Laura Wang, Jonathan Garner and Corey Ng, analysts at Morgan Stanley, in a report. "The amount will surge one or two weeks before the Spring Festival."