Mainland shares close mixed, benchmark index down 0.11%

Mainland share prices closed mixed on Thursday, with the Shanghai key index dropped 0.11%, weighed down by weak performance of oil companies.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A shares and B shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, edged down 0.11% or 3.16 to 2901.85 points after fluctuating between 2931.31 and 2784.42 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index on the smaller Shenzhen Stock Exchange jumped 0.18% or 17.47% to 9999.66 points, after touching an intraday high of 10132.34 points.

Market heavy weights made a weak performance yesterday. Shares of PetroChina and Sinopec moved down 1.40% and 2.16% to close at RMB 15.54 and RMB 11.30 respectively.

Metal sector led the rise. Aluminum Corp of China Ltd, the biggest metal producer of the country, soared to the 10% daily limit to RMB 14.19.

Dongfang Electric Corp, the nation's largest producer of electric power generating equipments based in Sichuan province, hiked 1.11% to RMB 30.17.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's biggest lender, lost 2.08% to RMB 5.17. Hua Xia Bank Co Ltd fell 2.21% to RMB 10.17.

Gains in farming and forestry developers kept on cushioning the index. Hefei Fengle Seed Co. Ltd, climbed 9.93% to RMB 12.40, almost hit the 10% daily limit.