Chinese shares closed down 1.54 percent on Thursday, with metal and steel makers taking a hit on continued profit taking, dealers said. 把金融英语站点收藏 The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B shares, shed 40.79 points to 2,610.62 on turnover of 138.8 billion yuan (20.3 billion dollars). The Shanghai A-share index lost 42.84 points, or 1.54 percent, to 2,740.14 on turnover of 138.4 billion yuan, while the Shenzhen A-share index was down 20.42 points, or 2.16 percent, at 923.82 on turnover of 70.9 billion yuan.