Chinese shares fell for a third straight day on Friday, sinking below the 2,600 mark on continued profit-taking in metal and oil stocks. An overnight 1.54 percent fall on Wall Street also weighed on market sentiment.

The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.5 percent, or 13.02 points, to 2,597.60. The Shenzhen Component Index slid 0.36 percent, or 36.22 points, to 10,072.63.

Combined turnover sank to 152.02 billion yuan (22.36 billion U.S. dollars) from 210.06 billion yuan the previous trading day.

Jiangxi Copper, China's largest copper producer, fell 0.47 percent to 27.33 yuan. Aluminum Corporation of China, the nation's biggest aluminum maker, slid 1.03 percent to 10.62 yuan.

PetroChina, China's largest oil producer, shed 2.35 percent to 12.86 yuan after world crude oil prices eased.

New energy firms gained after the National Development and Reform Commission said Thursday that energy-efficient products would be subsidized to spur consumption and beef up energy saving.

Shenzhen Topray Solar gained 5.26 percent to 29.42 yuan. Hisense Group, a major energy-efficient home appliance maker, rose 1.17 percent to 12.12 yuan.

Banks gained, helping offset the losses among metal companies. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the largest listed lender, rose 0.28 percent to 3.53 yuan. China Merchants Bank ended at 16.65 yuan, up 1.15 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2009)