Rise in mainland stock markets led by FTZ, tech stocks

Stock markets in the Chinese mainland continued to rise Tuesday, with gains in technology and free trade zone shares.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose by 3.20 points or 0.15 percent to 2,089.71 points on Tuesday. The Shenzhen Component Index was up by 37.92 points or 0.47 percent to 8,027.43 points.

Combined turnover on the two bourses on Tuesday was 140.7 billion yuan ($23.17 billion), an increase from Monday's 131.9 billion yuan.

Shanghai Securities News reported Tuesday that a plan for a free trade zone (FTZ) covering Guagdong, Hong Kong and Macao was submitted to the State Council in mid-December, boosting related shares. Grandblue Environment Co, based in Foshan, Guangdong Province, and Guangdong Weihua Corp rose by the daily limit of 10 percent on Tuesday.

Stocks linked to smart clothing technology outperformed, with three firms rising by the daily limit of 10 percent on Tuesday. Ingenic Semiconductor Co rose to 41.14 yuan while Shanghai Sinyang Semiconductor Materials Co rose to 41.97 yuan.

The medical sector has been boosted recently, due to the increasing number of bird flu cases being reported, but stocks in the sector fell back Tuesday. Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Co fell by 5.84 percent to 26.60 yuan while Anhui Anke Biotechnology (Group) Co slid by 5.37 percent to 16.74 yuan.

ChiNext, China's NASDAQ-style board for high-tech and fast-growing start-ups listed in Shenzhen, rose by 16.02 points or 1.29 percent to 1,258.82 points on Tuesday.