Asian shares fall as investors mull Chinese growth data

Shares retreated in Europe and Asia on Thursday as investors sold on worries Beijing might cut back on stimulus after China’s economy returned to growth in the last quarter. The Shanghai Composite index led Thursday’s declines, dropping 4.5% to 3,210.10. Benchmarks also fell in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney. News that China’s economy grew 3.2% in annual terms in April-June, after a 6.8% contraction in the previous quarter, failed to keep an overnight rally going. The expansion came as anti-virus lockdowns were lifted and factories and stores reopened. But it still was the weakest positive figure since China started reporting quarterly growth in the early 1990s....