China share prices fell Thursday as investors sold to lock in profits, in a decline led by nonferrous metal companies and banks. The yuan weakened against the U.S. dollar.
　　
　　The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.04 percent to 1,332.33. The Shenzhen Composite Index lost 2.15 percent to 338.02.
　　
　　“Investors have been cutting their positions, especially on nonferrous metal firms and bankers, some of which had posted a 30 percent to 40 percent rise in the previous month,” said Chen Zhe, an analyst at CITIC Securities.
　　
　　Among the day’s top losers were Baoji Titianium, which dropped 5.0 percent to 23.54 yuan, and China Minsheng Banking, which shed 3.4 percent to 5.46.
　　
　　Coal mining shares weakened on concerns that earnings growth could slow as chronic coal shortages ease this year.
　　
　　Yanzhou Coal Mining lost 5.8 percent to 6.29 and Shanxi Coking fell 5.0 percent to 7.78.
　　
　　“More selling is possible in the future, because of the changes in the demand-supply situation,” said Ding Chaoyu at Great Wall Securities.
　　
　　Analysts said they expected further declines following the market’s recent rally.
　　
　　In currency dealings, the U.S. dollar closed at 8.0181 on the automatic price matching system. On Wednesday the dollar closed at 8.0072.
　　
　　On the over-the-counter market the dollar was at 8.0191 at 0730 GMT, after closing Wednesday at 8.0120.