China Stocks Fall Most in Three Weeks on Bank Loan Curb Concern

China’s stocks fell, sending the benchmark index to its biggest drop in three weeks, as investors speculated the government will curb bank lending.

Financial companies led the decline, with Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. sinking below its offer price for the first time since its July debut. A person with knowledge of the matter said the regulator may require the biggest banks to boost capital adequacy ratios to as high as 15 percent by 2012. Jiangxi Copper Co. and China Shenhua Energy Co. retreated after prices of metals and oil fell. Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Co. paced losses by drugmakers on prospects recent gains were overdone.