Shanghai Composite down 0.45% at 2,962 points (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Shanghai , 17 Jul - Chinese shares closed flat to slightly lower amid weak Asian markets.

Investors remained on the sidelines as they monitored a meeting of China's political leaders that started on Monday and will run until tomorrow, known as the Third Plenum, amid expectations that important economic measures could be announced during the event.

The much-anticipated policy meeting, a major gathering of the top members of the ruling Communist Party of China that typically happens only once every five years, is expected to focus on high local government debt levels and a push for advanced manufacturing.

The markets hoped for more stimulus measures from Beijing after data showed on Monday that China's gross domestic product grew less than expected in the second quarter as weak consumer spending and demand weighed.

Increased speculation over a second term for Donald Trump weighed on Chinese stocks. In his first presidential term from 2017 to 2021, Trump had slapped steep tariffs on China, fuelling a prolonged trade war between the world's two major economies. The Shanghai Composite closed down 0.45% at 2,962 points, while the Shenzhen CSI 300 rose 0.09% to 3,501 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 17-07-24 11:27:52 (0277) 5 NNNN