New stock account openings decline

Chinese investors are opening accounts to trade stocks in the smallest numbers in three months after the Shanghai Composite Index entered a bear market and initial public offerings dried up.

Individual investors opened 324,856 accounts last week, data from the nation's clearing house showed yesterday, the least since the five days ended June 5 and a sixth week of declines.

The Shanghai index tumbled 22 percent in August, entering a bear market or a decline of 20 percent from a recent peak, on speculation a plunge in new lending would derail recovery in the world's third-largest economy.