NET profits of domestically listed companies last year grew slightly from that of a year earlier, as the country's economic growth slowed to a 13-year low, according to data released yesterday.

As of Thursday, 1,435 companies had filed their 2012 annual reports to the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges.

Their total profits stood at 1.69 trillion yuan (US$270 million), up just 0.46 percent year on year, reported China Finance Information, a website providing stock market information.

The profits of 648 companies, or 45.17 percent of the total, dropped, the data showed.

This came as the country's economic slowdown last year thwarted demand both at home and abroad and cut into the profitability of companies.

At the end of last year, 2,494 Chinese companies were listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen.