China shares down 1.19%

Shanghai - Chinese shares were down 1.19% in early trading on Wednesday despite reassurances from the central bank that it would provide funds to banks to ease a liquidity squeeze, dealers said.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 23.40 points to 1 936.11.

China's central bank said Tuesday it saw an end to the liquidity crisis and offered to support banks, after stocks closed at a level unseen since the global financial crisis in 2009.