China share trading halted after 7% plunge

Trading on China's stock markets has been suspended after the market dramatically plunged and triggered a new system meant to limit volatility.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite index fell 6.9% while the blue-chip CSI 300 Index dropped 7%.
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.
The Caixin/Markit purchasing managers' index (PMI) slipped to 48.2 in December, marking the 10th consecutive month of shrinking factory activity in the sector.
A reading below 50 suggests a contraction in the sector, while anything above 50 suggests growth.
The private PMI survey, which focuses more on small and medium-sized businesses, came after an official survey on Friday, which looked at larger companies, suggested a fifth month of shrinking factory activity.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was down 2.8% at 21,293.13.

Rest of Asia lower

Shares in the rest of Asia followed China lower. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed 3.1% lower at 18,450.98 as a stronger yen weighed on shares of major exporters.
The market was also catching up with last week's declines in the US, after being closed for the past two sessions.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 0.5% at 5,270.50, while South Korea's Kospi index finished down 2.2% at 1,918.76.
A jump in oil prices boosted Australia's energy sector with shares of Woodside Petroleum up 3%.
Brent crude gained 3%, rising as high as $38.40 a barrel, after Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric ignited tensions in the region, raising concerns among investors about oil supplies.