China's stock markets are suffering from massive volatility and investors are running scared. If you're just catching up to it, here's what you need to know. Last updated: August 24, 03:55 am ET (07:55 am GMT).
1) The Shanghai composite index shed 8.5% on Monday. The index also suffered heavy losses last week, losing 11.5% of its value in just five trading sessions. The benchmark index has now wiped away all gains made in 2015.
2) The sharp declines are terrible news for officials in Beijing, who have been trying desperately in recent months to support stocks.
3) The root cause of all the turmoil: Over the past year, investors poured more and more into Chinese stocks, even though economic growth and company profits were weak.
4) Retail investors -- think mom and pop, average folks -- were the most enthusiastic. A classic bubble developed.
5) The bubble popped on June 12, and the Shanghai index lost about a third of its value before rebounding. Losses were even more dramatic on the the smaller Shenzhen Composite.
6) China moved aggressively to control the crisis. The government gave money to brokerages to buy stocks -- and ordered company executives not to sell their shares. New company listings were suspended. The central bank cut interest rates to a record low.
7) Regulators and security officials launched an investigation into illegal short selling -- borrowing stocks so you can trade them in the hope they fall -- and rumor mongering. Only approved brokers are allowed to engage in short selling in China.
8) For a while, Beijing's plan appeared to work. But the Shanghai Composite has resumed its decline, wiping away all gains made in 2015.
9) Foreigners own just 1.5% of Chinese shares, so your portfolio is unlikely to be directly affected. Still, economists are worried that stock losses will ripple through China's economy, and take a bite out of consumer spending. Gold, copper and other commodity prices have been affected.
10) The government's goal is to minimize damage to the real economy, and Beijing still has policy tools it can use to support growth.
11) However, there are signs of weakness spreading through China's manufacturing sector. On Friday, a key gauge of China's manufacturing activity tumbled to its lowest level in 77 months.
12) Investors around the world are now reacting to the threat posed by an economic slowdown in China. Last week, the Dow plummeted by more than 1,000 points -- its worst five-day trading period since 2011.
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