Stocks edge down on slow loan growth concerns

The mainland stocks fell for a fourth day, the Shanghai Composite Index's longest losing streak this year, as financial and energy companies dropped on concern slowing loan growth will crimp margins and curb housing and power demand.

The Shanghai Composite declined 10.93, or 0.3 percent, to 3249.76 at the close, capping its longest series of losses since Dec 31. The gauge slumped 4.4 percent last week, its biggest retreat since the five days to Feb 27, on concern the central bank will curb inflows into a stock market that had doubled from last year's low.

"There will be problems with liquidity inflows in the second half of the year as it's not possible for new lending to keep expanding as fast as it did in the first half," said Li Jun, a strategist at Central China Securities Holdings Co.