Chinese shares retreat on Tuesday

Chinese equities stumbled on Tuesday, despite gains among agriculture, forestry, medical and tech shares.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.12 percent to 3,021.2 points, while the Shenzhen Component Index dropped 0.37 percent to 9,964.93 points, and the blue chip CSI300 index ended 0.34 percent lower at 3,959.27 points.

Turnover on the two major bourses totaled 696 billion yuan (US$97.72 billion), shrinking from 716 billion yuan in the previous session.

Shares in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery industries and medical firms performed strongly, with Shandong Denghai Seeds Co Ltd and Kunming Longjin Pharmaceutical Co Ltd hitting the daily 10-percent limit.

The aerospace and communications industries suffered the day's biggest losses.

On the new STAR market, 24 firms gained, the same number as yesterday. The largest percentage gainer was Chipscreen Biosciences.