SUNING Appliance Co, China's biggest electronics retailer by market value, fell the most in more than 18 months in Shenzhen trading after reporting that first-half profit growth had slowed.

The stock slid by the 10 percent daily limit to 36.64 yuan (US$5.37), its biggest decline since February 27, 2007. Suning has dropped 49 percent this year, compared with the 57 percent decline in the benchmark CSI 300 Index, Bloomberg News said.

Net income rose 70 percent to 1.1 billion yuan (US$161 million), the Jiangsu Province-based company said last Friday after the market closed. Growth was 110 percent in the first half of 2007. China's home appliance market grew about 10 percent in the first half, slowing from 12 percent a year earlier, Suning said.

Suning's nine-month profit may rise between 60 percent and 90 percent. Net income doubled a year earlier. China's economy grew 10.1 percent in the second quarter, the fourth successive slowdown.

Gome Electrical Appliances Holdings Ltd, China's second-largest electronics retailer by market value, said last month first-half sales grew 18 percent, compared with 74 percent a year earlier.