Beijing - China's main stock market index lost more than 6 per cent of its value on Tuesday as investors followed Wall Street and regional markets by taking profits.

The key Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks shares traded in foreign and local currencies, closed at 1,902 points, down 6.31 per cent, after several days of large gains.

The smaller Shenzhen Composite Index fell by a similar margin as analysts blamed profit taking from a total rise of more than 10 per cent over the past week to Monday. (dpa)