Stocks fall slightly on investor breather

Major shares on the Chinese mainland ended slightly lower on Wednesday, as investors took a breather after three straight days of solid gains.

The blue-chip CSI300 index was unchanged at 3,581.98 points at the end of the morning session, before closing 0.11 percent lower.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell slightly by 0.07 percent to end at 2,903.65 points.

Bolstered by the central government’s stimulus plan released on Friday and Monday, both indexes have risen for the past three consecutive trading sessions.

On Tuesday, blue chips rose to a one-month high.

Stocks were mixed on Wednesday, with most remaining unchanged.

Concept shares related to US social media company Facebook led the gains, with Shenzhenlisted digital marketing agency BlueFocus, for instance, jumping by the daily limit of 10.09 percent. A sub-index tracking those stocks rose 5.36 percent. The US firm on Tuesday said it has set up a subsidiary in China.

Meanwhile, Shenzhen’s NASDAQ-style board ChiNext gained 0.17 percent to end at 1,632.32 points.

The largest percentage gainers in the main Shanghai Composite Index were North China Pharmaceutical Co, up 10.06 percent, followed by Nanning Department Store Co, up 10.05 percent, and Liaoning SG Automotive Group Co, up 10.04 percent.

The largest percentage losers in the Shanghai index were Fuda Alloy Materials Co, down 6.8 percent, followed by Fujian Start Group Co, down 6.49 percent, and Huafang Co, down 6.22 percent.