The Chinese benchmark index recorded its greatest loss in a month as socks fell on retreading coal producers and speculation that the government may decrease growth targets during an economic policy meeting this week.

China’s two largest coal producers, China Shenhua Energy Co. (601088) and China Coal Energy Co., lost at least 2 percent as government plans were forced to taper production on account of worsening air polution. China Life Insurance Co. fell 3.9 percent, cutting gains in the past month to 14 percent, while Ping An Insurance Group Co. decreased 3.4 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index (SHCOMP) lost 1.5 percent, the most since 13th November. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) dropped 2.8 percent in Hong Kong.

According to the Economic Information Daily, China may be seen cutting its economic growth target for 2014 to 7 percent from 7.5 percent at the conference that closes tomorrow. The China Securities Journal, moreover, said today that policy makers may begin to cut down the proactive fiscal stimulus.