Mainland stock markets rise after recent downward trend

Stock markets in the Chinese mainland gained Tuesday following several days of decline, boosted by the auto and smart technology sectors.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index climbed by 17.28 points or 0.86 percent to 2,026.84 points on Tuesday, after falling for four consecutive trading sessions.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed up by 93.21 points or 1.23 percent at 7,665.77 points, gaining for the first time in 2014.

Combined turnover on the two bourses on Tuesday was 146.3 billion yuan ($24.21 billion), increasing from the previous trading day's 136.33 billion yuan.

The auto sector performed strongly, boosted by news late on Monday that the central government has ordered the People's Liberation Army to buy domestic-brand vehicles instead of foreign ones.

FAW Car Co rose by 5.08 percent to 10.35 yuan while Chongqing Changan Automobile Co rose by 1.94 percent to 11.05 yuan on Tuesday.

ChiNext, China's NASDAQ-style board for high-tech and fast-growing start-ups listed in Shenzhen, rose by 38.13 points or 2.80 percent to 1,400.92 points on Tuesday.

Stocks linked to "smart" technologies, many of which are listed on ChiNext, outperformed Tuesday partly due to expectations of government support. Also, the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas unveiled many new smart products, ranging from refrigerators to door locks.

Smart equipment-linked stocks rose sharply, with Siasun Robot & Automation Co jumping by the daily limit of 10 percent to 52.33 yuan on Tuesday.

Smart home appliance makers and wearable device makers also gained strongly.

Wuxi Hodgen Technology Co, a developer of intelligent control devices, and wearable equipment maker Sino Wealth Electronic Ltd both soared by the daily limit of 10 percent to 13.18 yuan and 17.90 yuan, respectively.