SHANGHAI, China – Chinese shares dropped for a third day Tuesday, led by mining and metals stocks as economic worries deepened.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index opened down but advanced along with stocks in Japan and Hong Kong before fading to end down 0.8 percent, or 13.07 points, at 1706.7. The smaller Shenzhen Composite Index fell 2 percent to 456.97.

Buying sentiment was dampened by jitters about the slowdown in China's economy and grim third-quarter earnings for Chinese companies, said Huaxi Securities analyst Mao Sheng.

Miners and metals led the decline as prices of commodities fell across the board in London.

China Shenhua Energy Ltd., the country's biggest coal producer, shed 4.8 percent to 17.18 yuan, while Kailuan Clean Coal Ltd. lost 5.4 percent to 9.65 yuan.

Jiangxi Copper Ltd. sank 2.9 percent to 8.47 yuan. Baoshan Iron & Steel Corp. dropped 3.1 percent to 4.32 yuan.

Brokerages slid, with Haitong Securities, China's biggest brokerage by market value, diving the daily limit of 10 percent to 14.94 yuan. Haitong was especially hard hit because trading restrictions that affect 3.5 billion of its shares are due to be lifted in November and December, and investors worry about the increased liquidity. Citic Securities Ltd. slipped 3.9 percent to 16.06 yuan.

China Railway Construction Corp. plummeted 9.2 percent to 7.77 yuan, after the government of Nigeria asked the company to suspend work on an $8.3 billion project there and make changes in its contract.

Banks were among the few gainers, with China Construction Bank, Ltd. adding 1.3 percent to 3.95 yuan. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China's biggest commercial lender, edged up 0.8 percent to 3.69 yuan.

In currency markets, China's yuan traded at 6.8375 to the U.S. dollar in over-the-counter trading around 0800 GMT, up from Monday's close of 6.8380.