(Adds that commodity markets were unaffected) SINGAPORE, May 12 (Reuters) - The Chinese yuan slipped in offshore forwards trading on Monday and Shanghai stocks fell after a strong earthquake struck in southwestern China's Sichuan province. Shanghai's main stock index <.SSEC> fell around 1 percent after the quake news, although it closed up 0.37 percent on the day. The yuan fell in non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) trading, which reflects international views on the yuan, after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck Sichuan less than 100 km (60 miles) from the provincial capital Chengdu. The quake was felt across much of China and as far as Bangkok, where office buildings swayed for several minutes. One-month NDFs <CNY1MNDFOR=> moved to 6.9830 per dollar, from around 6.9740 before the news of the quake. A trader said the yuan was already weak owing to broad dollar support on Monday. The latest level prices in an appreciation of just 0.04 percent from the spot rate of 6.9860 <CNY=CFXS>. The spot rate is closely controlled by the central bank. Commodity markets showed no reaction to the quake news, trading sources said. There are no refineries in the quake-hit area, and relatively few metals production centres, although the region does produce some natural gas, they said. Chengdu is a fast-growing metropolis of 10 million people, around 1,300 km (2070 miles) southwest of Beijing. > For quake story double click here...........[ID:nSP239734] > China markets function after quake.........[ID:nSHA238617]> Regular stocks report..[.SS] > Regular currency report..............[CNY/] (Reporting by Vidya Ranganathan; Editing by Neil Fullick)
A child receives medical treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease at a hospital in Hefei, Anhui province May 10, 2008. A strain of hand, foot and mouth disease has killed ...
