China Halts Stock Trading After 7% Rout Triggers Circuit Breaker

China Halts Stock Trading After 7% Rout Triggers Circuit Breaker

Chinese stock trading was halted for the rest of the day after the CSI 300 Index plunged more than 7 percent.

Trading of shares and index futures was halted from about 1:34 p.m. local time, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Stocks fell as manufacturing contracted for a fifth straight month and investors anticipated the end of a ban on share sales by major stakeholders.

Under the mechanism which only became effective Monday, a move of 5 percent in the CSI 300 triggers a 15-minute halt for stocks, options and index futures, while a move of 7 percent close the market for the rest of the day. The CSI 300 of companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen fell as much as 7.02 percent before trading was suspended.