Brokerages were lower, with Haitong Securities down 2.9% and Citic Securities fell 2.1%.

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The first sign of trouble came in December 2011, when Haitong Securities, the second largest brokerage firm in China, called off its planned IPO.

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The market got a boost Friday when Haitong Securities Co.

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The two biggest Citic Securities and Haitong Securities Co.

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