Chinese shares opened 1.99 percent lower on Tuesday in reaction to a Wall Street fall overnight.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, slid 1.99 percent to 1,856.97 at the opening. The smaller Shenzhen index fell 2.14 percent, to open at 6,619.35 points.

On Monday, Wall Street plunged as a gauge of US manufacturing activity in November fell to a 26-year low following similarly weak readings in Europe and China, fueling fears over a deepening global downturn

(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2008)