China tallies losses, costs from quake

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.4 percent to 3,624.23, while the Shenzhen Composite Index fell 0.8 percent to 1.124.29.

Investors were cashing in on midweek gains from speculation that such companies would benefit from rising demand due to post-quake reconstruction, analysts said.

"Some institutional investors are using this tragedy to speculate on reconstruction-related shares such as cement, electricity power and steel shares," said Zhang Linchang, an analyst at Guotai Junan Securities.

To prevent price gouging and hoarding as it struggles to keep inflation in check, China's economic planning agency imposed temporary price caps on basic goods and transport in quake-hit areas.

The National Development and Reform Commission said Thursday that it would restrict prices for food, drinking water and transport in central Sichuan and Gansu provinces due to rising prices there.

Authorities were arranging special shipments of fuel, grain and edible oil to help prevent shortages.