Beijing  -  Shares on China's two stock markets fell by more than 4 per cent on Wednesday, with analysts attributing the slide to profit-taking.

The key Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks shares traded in local and foreign currency, lost 4.13 per cent to close down 154.36 points at 3,579.15.

Shares traded on the smaller Shenzhen Composite Index also closed down 4.35 per cent, ending at 1,073.81 after losing 48.84 points on Wednesday.

Financial, aviation and power companies led the plunge, state media said.

The fall in the Shanghai market was the largest since April 14.

Shares in the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the world's largest bank by market value, fell 3.24 per cent in Shanghai, while other leading banks also lost heavily, the Shanghai Daily newspaper said. (dpa)