China posts slowest economic growth in 18 months as optimism fades over stimulus

Blistering sharemarket rally of recent weeks recedes as expectations cool towards long-awaited ‘bazooka stimulus’ for ailing property sector

China posted its slowest growth in a year and a half on Friday, as Beijing struggles to steady an economy shaken by sluggish consumer spending and persistent property sector woes.

Officials have in recent weeks unveiled a string of measures to reignite the world's number-two economy, with an eye to achieving its official annual growth target of 5%.

But after a blistering share market rally fuelled by hopes for a long-awaited "bazooka stimulus", optimism has tapered as authorities refrained from providing a specific figure for the bailout or detailing any of the pledges.