Chinese shares fell for three straight days, sinking below the 2,600 mark on Friday on continuous profit-taking.

The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.50 percent, to close at 2,597.60.

The Shenzhen Component Index went down 0.36 percent, to 10,072.63.

Combined turnover contracted to 152.02 billion yuan (US$22.36 billion) from 210.06 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2009)