Mainland stock exchanges flat as investors await new policies

Stock markets in the Chinese mainland were little changed on Thursday, with a subdued trading volume as investors awaited results from an economic work conference.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index declined slightly by 1.37 points or 0.06 percent to close at 2,202.80 points on Thursday. The Shenzhen Component Index fell by 9.15 points or 0.11 percent to 8,400.65 points.

Combined turnover on the two bourses on Thursday was 169.1 billion yuan ($27.84 billion), down from Wednesday's 198.8 billion.

GF Securities Co said in a research note on Thursday that investors should wait and see what economic policies are decided on at the Central Economic Work Conference, which began on Tuesday.

Banks and insurers saw poor performance Thursday, with China Life Insurance Co falling by 1.53 percent to 15.42 yuan and Ping An Insurance (Group) Co falling by 0.41 percent to 41.56 yuan.

Shares with high dividends also saw gains on Thursday, with Kemen Noodle Manufacturing Co rising 7.36 percent to 39.70 yuan.

Shares linked to fourth-generation network technology also rose, having declined in the previous few days since the government announced the approval of 4G licenses last week. Nationz Technologies Inc jumped by 9.92 percent to 23.83 yuan on Thursday.

Meanwhile, ChiNext, China's NASDAQ-style board for high-tech and fast-growing start-ups listed in Shenzhen, jumped by 2.80 percent to 1,279.32 points on Thursday.

The strong gains were led by Internet, entertainment and semiconductor stocks. ChiNext-listed Beijing Enlight Media Co and Ingenic Semiconductor Co soared by the daily limit of 10 percent to 41.55 yuan and 32.55 yuan, respectively, on Thursday.