Chinese shares down slightly in morning trade

Shanghai – Chinese shares fell slightly in early trade Wednesday on worries over first-quarter company earnings as the country’s economy slows, dealers said.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B shares, was down 0.26 percent, or 6.23 points, at 2,382.61.

China said earlier this month its economy grew by 8.1 percent in the first three months of 2012, its slowest pace in nearly three years, piling pressure on Beijing to loosen its monetary policy.