Markets up as small-caps climb in heavy trading

Stock markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen posted modest advances again Tuesday as fading liquidity concerns bolstered sentiment.

The Shanghai Composite Index climbed 11.32 points, or 0.57 percent, to close at 2,006.56; while the Shenzhen Component Index edged up 0.65 percent, or 50.36 points, to finish at 7,768.84.

Combined turnover at the two exchanges jumped to 172.5 billion yuan ($28.12 billion), up from Monday's total of 141.97 billion yuan.

Both indices encountered headwinds in the morning session, but eventually elbowed back above par in the afternoon as strengthening confidence in the stock market lifted securities stocks.

Topical sectors remained at the fore as bargain hunters sifted for undervalued equities after last week's rout. Small-cap shares related to traditional Chinese medicine, aviation manufacturing, agricultural services, biochemistry, medical instruments and the Internet walked away with some of the day's biggest wins.

Listed Chinese wine makers were topped off as well after the Ministry of Commerce announced on its website Monday that it had formally launched anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations into European wine imports. Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine Co rose 4.55 percent to 35.12 yuan. Citic Guoan Wine Co added 4.01 percent to 4.15 yuan.

Companies exposed to the robotics and automation industry also pulled ahead as Tuesday witnessed the start of the China International Robot Show 2013. Shenzhen Inovance Technology Co climbed 5.22 percent to 40.50 yuan. SIASUN Robot & Automation Co edged up 2.55 percent to 40.99 yuan on the day.

In the brokerage sector, Southwest Securities Co tacked on 1.41 percent to 7.91 yuan. Haitong Securities Co went up 1.06 percent to 9.50 yuan.