Travel stocks jump in mixed trading

Stock markets on the Chinese mainland parted ways Wednesday as equities connected to environmental protection and Shanghai's free trade zone were heavily traded.

The Shanghai Composite Index ticked up 13.57 points, or 0.62 percent, to close at 2,211.77; while the Shenzhen Component Index dipped 13.76 points, or 0.16 percent, to end at 8,667.77.

Meanwhile, the small and medium-sized enterprise board index was up 0.43 percent to conclude at 5,342.55; while the ChiNext index ended 2.03 percent higher at 1,415.83.

Combined turnover crept to 247.39 billion yuan ($40.43 billion), up from Tuesday's 239.69 billion yuan.

Strong growth in travel spending and retail receipts over China's recently concluded Golden Week indicates that many in the market had undervalued the country's consumer spending power, according to analysts.

Such views pushed components within the tourism and hotel sector up by an average of 5.61 percent. Besttone Holding Co?hit the 10-percent daily limit, closing at 27.36 yuan. Shanghai Oriental Pearl (Group) Co followed its lead, adding 8.33 percent to 12.10 yuan.

Sector blue chips Beijing Jingxi Tourism Development Co and Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Development Co rose by 1.67 percent and 1.51 percent, respectively, to close at 6.08 yuan and 14.16 yuan.

Ports and shipping stocks were up 3.88 percent on average amid speculations that free trade zone trials would extend to Tianjin and other coastal regions. Seven individual stocks within the sector maxed out at the 10-percent limit.

Coal and steel production stocks drifted lower by averages of 0.46 percent and 0.03 percent respectively, largely due to overcapacity concerns.