(Yicai Global) March 16 -- Shares of ZTE, a telecoms equipment maker with a history of breaking United States law, fell by the daily exchange-imposed limit following an NBC News report that the Chinese company is under investigation in the US over bribery charges.

ZTE's Shanghai-listed stock [SHE:000063] slumped 10 percent today to close at CNY45.71 (USD6.52), while in Hong Kong its shares [HKG:0763] lost 23 percent to HKD23.80 (USD3.06).

US broadcaster NBC reported on March 13 that the US Department of Justice was investigating the company for bribing officials in countries across the globe in order to promote its business. ZTE is no stranger to US investigations, having been fined USD1 billion last year for illegally selling American technologies to Iran.

ZTE has no knowledge of any investigation being carried out into it by the US authorities, the Shenzhen-based company said in a statement today. The firm has received no notice of such a probe, it said.

The company added that it will proactively communicate with the US government and disclose further information as required.

Editor: James Boynton