ChiNext Index opens lower Thursday

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, opened at 1,172.09 points on Thursday, down 0.31 percent from the previous close.

The index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and the Shenzhen SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) Board Index, makes up the three core indices reflecting the performance of China's stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The ChiNext Board, which started trading on Oct. 30, 2009, mainly lists hi-tech companies and those with high growth potential.