Stocks fall back after strong gains

Stocks in the Chinese mainland fell back Tuesday, after a three-day rally that was inspired by news of government reform plans.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index declined by 4.09 points or 0.19 percent to close at 2,193.13 points Tuesday. The Shenzhen Component Index fell by 62.54 points or 0.73 percent to 8,461.21 points.

Combined turnover on the two bourses on Tuesday was 233 billion yuan ($38.24 billion), a decline from Monday's 271.6 billion yuan.

The financial sector had been the biggest gainer in the previous trading session, backed by reforms pledged on Friday following the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee. But the sector led the decline on Tuesday.

Leading stock brokerage China Merchants Securities Co fell by 2.40 percent to 10.99 yuan while Ping An Bank Co dropped by 1.92 percent to 13.82 yuan.

Media stocks were more successful, benefiting from news of reform plans for the culture industry. JiShi Media Co rose by the daily limit of 10 percent to 9.65 yuan while Shenzhen Jinjia Color Printing Gp Co rose by 9.34 percent to 13.95 yuan.

The reform plans also mentioned developing national security and easing the one-child policy, but the performance of stocks related to these areas was mixed on Tuesday, having seen strong gains in previous days.

Information security company Bluedon Information Security Tech Co and security products manufacturer Shenzhen Infinova Ltd both soared by the daily limit of 10 percent for a fifth consecutive day to 19.61 yuan and 17.56 yuan, respectively. But other security-related stocks generally declined.

Stocks related to child care also saw mixed fortunes. Beijing Sanyuan Foods Co fell by 4.17 percent to 8.96 yuan after rising by 10 percent on Monday, while Guangdong Qunxing Toys Joint-Stock Co rose by 10 percent on Tuesday.

ChiNext, China's NASDAQ-style board for high-tech and fast-growing start-ups listed in Shenzhen, rose by 7.01 points or 0.54 percent to 1,298.17 points at the close Tuesday.