Chinese shares lost 1.19 percent Friday, as investors cashed in profits from recent gains, despite an overnight Wall Street rally, dealers said.

Chinese shares down 1.19% on profits taking [CFP]

Chinese shares advanced for five consecutive trading days as of Wednesday and only eased 0.08 percent Thursday.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index finished at 2,503.93 points Friday, down 30.2 points, or 1.19 percent, from the previous close.

The Shenzhen Component Index went down 1.35 percent, or 131.3 points, to close at 9,580.06.

Losses outnumbered gains by 616 to 238 in Shanghai and 525 to 200 in Shenzhen.

Combined turnover shrank to 241.24 billion yuan (US$35.31 billion) Friday from 270.24 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2009)