The Shanghai Composite Index decreased 1.69 percent to close at 3291.6 on Wednesday, while the Shenzhen Composite Index decreased 2.39 percent to close at 1004.18. Trading volume on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges reached RMB 53.206 billion and RMB 25.992 billion, respectively.
The National Bureau of Statistics announced the same day that the nation's consumer price index (CPI) rose 8.3 percent year-on-year in March, compared to an 8.7 percent rise in February. For the first quarter of 2008, the CPI was up 8 percent year-on-year.
Shares of China Southern Airlines (600029.SH, NYSE: ZNH), Air China Ltd. (601111.SH) and China Eastern Airlines (600115.SH, 0670.HK, NYSE: CEA) fell 9.95 percent, 7.24 percent and 5.58 percent, respectively, on Wednesday.