China stocks retreat on Tuesday

Chinese stocks retreated on Tuesday following strong gains the previous trading day as securities brokers, banks, non-ferrous metals and coal producers led the decline. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.19 percent, or 4.09 points, to finish at 2,193.13. The Shenzhen Component Index dipped 0.73 percent, or 62.54 points, to finish at 8,461.21. Total turnover on the two bourses slightly expanded to 233.13 billion yuan (38.02 billion U.S. dollars) from 232.4 billion yuan the previous trading day. China Merchants Securities Co., Ltd. fell 2.4 percent to 10.99 yuan per share; the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the nation's largest lender, fell 0.26 percent to 3.82 yuan. The majority of coal-related stocks fell with China Shenhua Energy Company Limited, the nation's largest coal producer, down 0.18 percent to 16.55 yuan. Previous rallies in sectors related to national security and maternal and baby consumer goods were downgraded on Tuesday with Beijing Sanyuan Foods Co., Ltd. falling 4.17 percent after it surged 10 percent on Monday. A key decision document released by Chinese authorities on Friday about the nation's reform plans featured a sweeping social and economic reform roadmap. Key reforms include the establishment of a national security commission and allowing couples to have two children if one of the parents is an only child.