A drop in Chinese stock prices this year is squeezing fundraising by companies that are already listed at the country’s stock exchanges.

Among a group of 167 listed companies that have already sold or plan to sell additional shares this year, the current market price of the publicly traded stock for 69 members is below the offering price for their new script, according to a report in Tuesday’s China Business News.

For example, Beijing Yanjing Brewery sold shares earlier this year at 5.78 yuan each, yet the market price ended at 5.77 yuan on Tuesday. And Apeloa Pharmaceutical sold shares earlier this year at 9.02 yuan each but was trading at only 5.70 yuan yesterday.

In the first half of the year, Shanghai’s main stock index lost 12.8%, making one of the world’s worst performers among major exchanges.  

– With Mao Yanjie

– Follow me on Twitter @rflannerychina