Financial stocks lead gains again

Chinese shares closed mixed Thursday. 

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.02 percent to close at 2,603.80 points. The Shenzhen Component Index was lower 0.21 percent, closing at 7,529.41 points.

Combined turnover of the two bourses stood at 292.6 billion yuan (US$42.1 billion), compared with 297.1 billion yuan the previous trading day.

Financial shares continued their strong performance with sub-indexes of the banking and securities stocks rising 5.76 percent and 1.86 percent. Shares of all companies in the banking and securities sectors gained. Pacific Securities, Central China Securities and Sealand Securities increased by the daily limit of 10 percent.

Liquor stocks remained among the biggest losers with Luzhou Laojiao and Anhui Gujing Distillery losing over 3 percent.