Chinese shares close down 0.73 percent

Chinese share prices closed 0.73 percent lower Tuesday, snapping a run of gains after profit-taking hit airline stocks and uncertainty over future monetary policy affected financials, dealers said.

They said China's top three airlines -- Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines -- were hit hard by profit-taking after all three rose by the 10 percent daily limit on Monday.

However, a rebound in PetroChina, the biggest index component, prevented the key index from falling further.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B shares, closed down 27.51 points at 3,733.50 on turnover of 148.3 billion yuan (21.2 billion dollars).

The Shanghai A-share Index was down 28.75 points or 0.73 percent to 3,917.70 on turnover of 147.9 billion yuan. The Shenzhen A-share Index lost 7.71 points or 0.65 percent to 1,179.12 on turnover of 61.50 billion yuan.

(Agencies)