BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Shares fell 1.84 percent on Tuesday amid investor uncertainty over the impact of the Sichuan earthquake, analysts said, and dozens of companies based in the quake region stopped trading.

    The 66 Sichuan- and Chongqing-based companies (45 in Shanghai, 21 in Shenzhen) will resume trading after they release information concerning quake damage.

    The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed at 3,560.24 points, down 66.74 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 13,074.23 points, down 91.87 points, or 0.7 percent.

    Combined turnover rose to 187.65 billion yuan (26.8 billion U.S. dollars) from 174.8 billion yuan on Monday.

    Disaster-relief related shares were in the spotlight. Medical shares gained 6.87 percent, with about one-fourth, or 21 of the sector stocks, rising by the daily limit of 10 percent.

    Also rising were construction stocks. Led by Anyang Iron and Steel, which rose 9.08 percent to 8.29 yuan, steel stocks surged 3percent. Baoshan Iron and Steel gained 1.6 percent to 13.96 yuan.

    An analyst from the Research Center of Changjiang Securities said that the quake might be a psychological shock to investors, but it would have only a limited impact on the economy and profits of listed companies.

    Financial stocks sank. China Life declined 4.73 percent to 31.63 yuan and China Pacific Insurance Group plunged 7.18 percent to 24.69 yuan.

    The China Securities Regulatory Commission urged insurers on Tuesday to establish a "green path" and simplify procedures for quake-related claims.

    Agriculture shares were stronger, with six stocks up by the daily limit.

    On Tuesday, shareholders approved China Ping An's plan to issue new H shares equivalent to no more than 20 percent of the existing shares in the Hong Kong market. The shares stopped trading on Tuesday.