Profit taking depressed Chinese shares on Thursday after two-day gains, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.25 percent to end at 2,415.15 points.

The Shenzhen Stock Index sank 0.21 percent, or 19.63 points, to 9,465.8 points.

Total turnover decreased to 103.97 billion yuan (15.22 billion U.S. dollars), from 105.76 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

Losers outnumbered gainers by 580 to 278 in Shanghai and 616 to 347 in Shenzhen.