Live | China Markets Live - Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong shares zapped to weak finish

Welcome to the SCMP's live markets blog. The intense volatility of recent weeks has every chance of remaining the core underlying theme of activity. Investors are increasingly focused the broader question of how this episode might affect the wider economy as many suspect the equity bubble has yet to fully deflate. We'll bring you the key levels, trading statements, price action and other developments as they happen.

Here’s a summary of market action Thursday, with analyst views: 

• Shanghai and Shenzhen extend losses in afternoon to settle lower  
• Hong Kong retreats further, loses 2.57 per cent by the close of Thursday 
• Wall Street down overnight, as fall in Apple shares and soft energy complex weighed on stocks
• Market looks toward meeting a week from now by US Federal Reserve to see if they will decide on raising interest rates for first time in a decade

4:07pm: The Hang Seng Index expanded its losses in the afternoon and closed down 2.57 per cent or 568.81 points to 21,562.5.The H-shares index finished at 9,780.16, down 1.96 per cent or 195.37 points. 

3:05pm:  The Shanghai Composite Index finished 1.39 per cent lower, 45.2 points, at 3,197.89. The CSI 300 Index sank 1.23 per cent, 41.75 points, to 3,357.56. 

3:05pm: The Shenzhen Composite Index lost 1.58 per cent, 28.47 points for the day, closing at 1,770.38. The ChiNext Index fell 1.57 per cent, 32.6 points, to 2,039.12. 

3:03pm: Shanghai Gold Exchange issued a notice today allowing its clients and members to use A shares, foreign currencies and listed-mutual funds as deposits for trading, according to its website. 

12:01pm: The Hang Seng Index closed the morning session down 2.15 per cent, or 476.46 points, to 21,654.85, while the H-share Index gave up 2.06 per cent, or 205.67 points, to 9,769.86.  

11:52am: Bank of China became the most heavily traded stock on Thursday morning as it was down 2.76 per cent to HK$3.53, with turnover hitting HK$920.62 million.

Tencent came next, as its price fell 2.25 per cent to $130.6 and turnover reached 802.35 million. CRRC was in third position as Hong Kong media reported local stock guru and chairman of Himalaya Capital Management Li Lu bought $198 million worth of CRRC shares last month when the benchmark index hit a historical low.

China Construction Bank came forth with turnover of $549.52 million, as its share price fell 2.55 per cent to $5.36. Ping An came the fifth as turnover surpassed $496 million. Its share price was down 0.39 per cent to $38.7.

11:37am: Gerry Alfonso, a director with Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, commenting on A share’s morning session:

“The economic figures were mixed and had a relatively small impact on the market.  The PPI figure was more troublesome, pointing perhaps to some moderate softness in the economy.