BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- China's major stock indices rose Thursday, with shares of the communication services sector and industrial hemp related companies surging.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.35 percent and broke through 3,100 points to finish at 3,101.46. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.71 percent higher at 9,869.80.
Combined trading volume of the two indexes totaled 885.95 billion yuan (about 132.53 billion U.S. dollars), growing from 775.6 billion yuan the previous trading day.
Most stocks gained, with gainers outnumbering losers by 956 to 455 on the Shanghai bourse and 1,443 to 570 on the Shenzhen bourse.
Communications and media related sectors led the rally, with Xinhua Net Co., Ltd. rising 10.01 percent to 26.15 yuan and Hubei Radio & Television Information Network Co., Ltd. up 10.00 to 11.11 yuan.
Stocks related to industrial hemp saw a notable increase as well. Zhejiang Golden Eagle Co., Ltd., originated from textile machinery factory, rose by the daily 10-percent limit to 7.45 yuan.
However, shares related to liquor, petroleum and banks dropped.
The ChiNext Index, China's NASDAQ-style board of growth enterprises, gained 0.94 percent to close at 1,703.85 points.
