A-shares up, gains moderate

Stock markets on the Chinese mainland put another victory under their belts Tuesday, although the gains narrowed from earlier in the week.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index finished trading at 2,305.11 after adding 0.22 percent, or 5.12 points; while the Shenzhen Component Index tacked on 1.04 percent, or 96.39 points, to close at 9,403.53.

Combined trading volume eased to 257 billion yuan ($41.92 billion), down from Monday's 278 billion yuan but still up dramatically compared with turnovers seen in recent months.

Both indices opened lower and struggled to make headway in early trading as lackluster performances from banking, property and energy stocks took their toll. It was a different story in the afternoon though as wins in topical sectors lifted markets out of the doldrums.

The media and entertainment sector posted some of the day's best performances after reports surfaced that the number of deals inked during the first three days of the China International Cultural Industries Fair was up 15.85 percent year-on-year. Both Beijing Hualu Baina Film & TV Inc and Guangdong Alpha Animation and Culture Co jumped past the 10-percent daily limit to 44.64 yuan and 19.13 yuan respectively.

Environmental protection stocks also walked away with respectable gains. Tianjin Capital Environmental Protection Group Co added 7.45 percent to 9.95 yuan.

On the down side, financial stocks were among the day's most notable laggards. Industrial Bank Co slipped 0.54 percent to 18.47 yuan. Founder Securities Co shed 0.80 percent to 7.43 yuan. New China Life Insurance Co dropped 0.60 percent to 24.90 yuan.

In individual equities, Bright Dairy & Food Co lost 2.68 percent to 14.88 yuan after Danone, the world's leading dairy product manufacturer, announced Monday that it would start a new joint venture and combine its yoghurt business with Mengniu Dairy, a major competitor of Bright.