LiveChina Markets Live - Shanghai and Shenzhen pounded to weak finish; Hong Kong ends easier

Welcome to the SCMP's live markets blog. The intense volatility of recent weeks has every chance of remaining the core underlying theme of activity. Investors are increasingly focused the broader question of how this episode might affect the wider economy as many suspect the equity bubble has yet to fully deflate. We'll bring you the key levels, trading statements, price action and other developments as they happen.

Here’s a summary of market action, with analyst views: 

• Shanghai ends 3.52 per cent down, barely hangs onto 3,000-point mark  
• Shenzhen market plunges almost 5 per cent, falls under 1,800 points 
• Hang Seng index in Hong Kong declines 106.67 points by close of business 
• Wall Street and global stocks weaker on Monday as focus turns to Federal Reserve

4:12pm: The Hang Seng index closed down 0.49 per cent, 106.67 points, at 21,455.23. The H-share index dipped 0.25 per cent, 24.45 points, to 9,704.27.

3:30pm: The Hang Seng Index is down 0.29 per cent, 61.71 points, at 21,500.19. the H-share index is 0.08 per cent weaker, 7.94 points, at 9,720.78.

3:30pm: The Shanghai Composite Index closed just a sliver above the 3,000 point mark. The key benchmark index fell throughout the day to close down 3.52 per cent, 109.63 points, at 3,005.17. The CSI 300 Index finished 3.93 per cent lower, 128.9 points, at 3,152.23. 

3:30pm: The Shenzhen Composite Index dropped 4.97 per cent, 82.63 points, to 1,580.26. The ChiNext Index fell 5.7 per cent, 108.66 points, to 1,797.56.