Trading on China’s stock markets has been suspended after the market dramatically plunged and triggered a new system meant to limit volatility.
The blue-chip CSI 300 Index dropped 7% while the benchmark Shanghai Composite index fell 6.9%.
The technology-heavy Shenzhen Composite was the worst performer and fell by more than 8%.
Trading had been halted earlier in the day for 15 minutes after the stock market fell by 5%.
But shares continued to fall, leading regulators to end trading early.
Under China’s new circuit-breaker mechanism, moves of 7% from the previous session’s close trigger a trading suspension for the day.
The measures were introduced in early December after the stock market’s turbulent sell-off over the summer. They came into effect for the first time on Monday.
One factor behind the stock market falls was a manufacturing survey that pointed to more bad news for the Chinese economy.
