Firms in the steel and coal sectors, which once topped the country's listed firms in profits and are closely tied to economic growth, were among the worst performers this time.
Guangdong-based steel firm SGIS Songshan Co., Ltd. reported a loss of over 700 million yuan in the first half of 2014, compared with narrow profits last year. Lingyuan Iron and Steel Group and Chongqing Iron and Steel Group were also in the red, blaming overproduction in their reports.