Chinese shares plunged 5.5 percent on Wednesday, the biggest daily dive since the end of January, driven down by market heavyweights.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed at 3,413.91 points, lost 198.63 points, or 5.5 percent.

The Shenzhen Component Index on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange ended at 13,078.81 points, down 3.78 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2008)