BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese stocks closed lower Tuesday, with the construction and environmental sectors posting the heaviest losses.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index went down 0.82 percent closing at 2,576.65, while the Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.82 percent lower at 7,530.32.
The combined turnover of stocks in the two indices stood at 230 billion yuan (about 33.4 billion U.S. dollars), down slightly from 238.3 billion yuan the previous trading day.
The construction industry led the declines. Shandong Hi-speed Road & Bridge Co., Ltd. shed 6.61 percent, while Shenzhen Universe (Group) Co., Ltd. lost 5.44 percent.
Environmental firms also suffered, with Tianjin Capital Environmental Protection Group Co. Ltd. dropping 4.7 percent.
The ChiNext Index, China's NASDAQ-style board, lost 0.45 percent to close at 1,293.34.
