China’s stocks fell, sending the benchmark index to its biggest loss in seven weeks, amid speculation that reduced lending to the property industry will curb growth in the world’s second-largest economy.

Nikkei 225 14,837.68 -27.99 -0.19%

S&P/ASX 200 5,440.22 +1.52 +0.03%

Shanghai Composite 2,076.69 -37.01 -1.75%

China Vanke Co. and Poly Real Estate Group Co., the nation’s biggest developers, plunged more than 6 percent after the Shanghai Securities News reported Industrial Bank Co. and other banks have curbed lending to the property sector.

Industrial Bank led declines for lenders with a 3.7 percent loss.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., the refiner known as Sinopec, slid as much as 6.4 percent, erasing gains since it announced plans to sell a stake to private investors.