SHANGHAI, Aug. 16 -- DOMESTIC stocks today slid for the first time in three days amid global credit worries related to sub-prime mortgage loans in the United States.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks yuan-denominated A shares and hard-currency B shares, slid 2.14 percent, or 104.43 points, to close at 4,765.45.

The Shenzhen Composite Index, which covers the smaller mainland stock market, dropped 0.62 percent, or 8.22 points, to 1,317.90.

Blue-chip companies reported widespread losses today.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China dropped 4.51 percent to 6.77 yuan (89 US cents) per share and Bank of China lost 3.88 percent to 5.95 yuan.

China Life Insurance Co, the country's top insurer, dropped 4.47 percent to 48.77 yuan while its rival Ping An Insurance (Group) Co lost 4.92 percent to 93.16 yuan.

China Vanke Co, the nation's biggest listed developer, lost 4.86 percent to 32.08 yuan.

Baoshan Iron & Steel Co, the country's biggest steel maker, lost 4.08 percent to 15.29 yuan and Angang Steel dropped 2.65 percent to 27.50 yuan.

Aluminum Corp of China, the nation's biggest producer of the metal, rose 1.08 percent to 34.57 yuan after the company announced yesterday that it bought a 91 percent stake in Peru Copper Inc for US$860 million.

Stocks in three key Asian markets fell to their lowest in months today, battered by persistent jitters over US housing loan problems and the possible damage to global financial markets.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed down nearly two percent on the Tokyo Stock Exchange after falling below the key 16,000-point mark for the first time since November.

South Korea's main benchmark fell 6.9 percent to its lowest finish since May, and Hong Kong's blue chip Hang Seng Index was down 3.7 percent mid-afternoon.

The Dow Jones industrial average yesterday fell 167.45, or 1.29 percent, to 12,861.47, closing below 13,000 for the first time since April 24. It continued a weeks-long pattern of triple-digit moves.

The US Federal Reserve added more cash to the American banking system, but failed to quash jitters about problems in lending.