Mainland stock exchanges slide

Stock markets in the Chinese mainland began the week on a weak note on Monday, dropping back from a rise last week.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell by 21.09 points or 1.03 percent to 2,033.30 points on Monday. The Shenzhen Component Index declined by 102.61 points or 1.31 percent to 7,752.54 points.

Combined turnover on the two bourses on Monday was 219.25 billion yuan ($36.25 billion), down from Friday's 226.8 billion yuan.

On Monday, concerns over emerging markets contributed to a sell-off of risky assets, weighing on global stock markets. Argentina's peso tumbled 14 percent against the US dollar in just two days last week.

Stock markets in other Asian countries and regions also sank on Monday, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong falling 2.11 percent to a five-month low of 21,976.10 points and Japan's Nikkei dropping by 2.51 percent to 15,005.73 points.

In the mainland stock exchanges, software makers, Internet security companies and "smart" home appliance-related firms outperformed on Monday while insurers, brokerages, and railway and cement companies weighed on the market.

Shanghai Hyron Software Co and Shenzhen Kingdom Technology Co jumped by the daily limit of 10 percent to 33.86 yuan and 21.78 yuan, respectively.

Shares in Citic Securities sank 3.34 percent to 11.56 yuan while Haitong Securities Co fell by 2.89 percent to 10.41 yuan.

Eight firms began trading for the first time on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Monday. All of the newly listed companies, which included Guangdong East Power Co and Guangdong Europol Steel Logistics Co, jumped by more than 44 percent from their IPO price.

ChiNext, China's NASDAQ-style board for high-tech and fast-growing start-ups listed in Shenzhen, retreated on Monday after gaining by 6.37 percent last week. The index nudged down by 6.76 points or 0.46 percent to 1,477.67 after hitting 1,500 points during afternoon trading.