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(Yicai Global) Dec. 18 -- Stock markets on the Chinese mainland opened lower this morning, following a sharp decline on American exchanges last night as the US Federal Reserve looks to raise interest rates for the fourth time this year.
The Shanghai Composite Index opened 0.55 percent lower at 2,583.63, while the Shenzhen Component Index began at 7,540.96, down 0.68 percent. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, started the day down 0.46 percent at 1,293.15.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average Index closed down 2.11 percent at 23,592.98 last night, while the S&P500 ended the day at 2,545.94, down 2.08 percent. The Nasdaq Composite also closed 2.27 percent lower at 6753.73.