SHANGHAI - Mainland stocks fell for the first time in four days, capping the worst quarterly drop since entering a bear market in August last year, on concern faster inflation will curb corporate earnings growth.

Baoshan Iron & Steel Co widened its loss for the last three months to 18 percent. Bank of China Ltd slid 1.6 percent, rounding out a 6.5 percent quarterly loss for the financials index.

"The market is worried that corporate earnings growth might peak in the first quarter due to the low base last year and rising costs," said Wang Zheng, a manager at Jingxi Investment Management Co.