(Yicai Global) July 8 -- China's mainland stock markets continued to struggle in the afternoon session, starting the week with a significant decline.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed 2.6 percent lower at 2,933.36. The Shenzhen Component Index ended at 9,186.27, down 2.7 percent and the ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, finished 2.65 percent lower at 1,506.66.  

Editor: James Boynton