China shares close mixed Wednesday

Chinese shares closed mixed Wednesday, ending the two-day rally at the beginning of the year.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended at 3,373.95 points, up 0.67 percent. The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 11,613.36 points, down 0.47 percent.

Total turnover on the two bourses shrank to 682.67 billion yuan (111.91 billion U.S. dollars) from 839.3 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

The gold sector rose remarkably with Shandong Gold expanding nearly the daily limit of 10 percent to 23.69 yuan per share.

Global gold prices continued to rise Tuesday as oil prices continued to fall, driving down U.S. energy equities and triggering a move to gold as a safe haven. An election in Greece has further supported the move to gold as a safe haven as traders fear Greece may exit the euro zone. Analysts believe these two factors are inciting investors to return to safe haven assets like bonds and gold.

The environmental protection sector dropped remarkably. Beijing Capital, a sewage treatment company, shrank 4.06 percent to 12.76 yuan per share.

The ChiNext Index, China's Nasdaq-style tracking board of growth enterprises, closed 1.07 percent lower at 1,523.39 points Wednesday.