SHANGHAI stocks are expected to remain weak this week as the aftermath of a plunge in global markets last week is likely to continue to weigh on China, with some analysts saying the key index may touch a low of 1,800 points.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index tumbled 12.78 percent last week to 2,000.57, completing a five-day losing streak influenced by the crash in global markets because of the ongoing financial crisis. The world's major economies vowed over the weekend to take all necessary steps to tackle the turmoil but offered no specifics on a collective course of action.

The Shanghai index plunged 3.57 percent on Friday but it performed better than other Asian markets, helped by financial shares, on hopes for more government intervention.

China's central bank cut interest rates last week, after scrapping a tax on share purchases, and a state fund also bought shares in some domestic banks late last month as part of a rescue package.

"The recent government incentives helped stabilize the market, but in the face of broader global uncertainties and concerns of slowdown in the domestic economy, there may not be a sharp rise by the market index," said Everbright Securities analyst Teng Yin, who predicted the barometer to move between 1,940 and 2,100 this week.

Another analyst, Wang Shuai, said the A-share market may touch as low as 1,800 if there are no improvements in neighboring markets.