Stock exchanges see modest decline amid subdued trading volumes

Stocks in the Chinese mainland edged down Tuesday amid subdued trading volumes.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dipped 3.04 points or 0.14 percent to close at 2,183.07 points on Tuesday while the Shenzhen Component Index declined by 14.20 points or 0.17 percent to 8,365.35 points.

Combined turnover on the two bourses on Tuesday was 187.6 billion yuan ($30.79 billion), down from Monday's 200.06 billion yuan.

China Petroleum & Chemical (Sinopec) Corp fell for a second consecutive day, dropping by 2.68 percent to 4.72 yuan on Tuesday after a deadly pipeline explosion that killed 55 people in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province on Friday. Seven employees of the company were arrested by police Tuesday in connection with the investigation into the blast.

Meanwhile, stocks linked to a free trade zone in Zhoushan Island in East China's Zhejiang Province continued to rise following gains on Monday. Zhejiang Golden Eagle Co, which is engaged in the textile and machinery industries, and cement manufacturer Ningbo Fuda Company both rose by the 10 percent daily limit on Tuesday.

But stocks linked to other free trade zones in Shanghai and Tianjin performed poorly Tuesday, as did the media and entertainment sector.

Security-related stocks soared after recent decisions to strengthen China's national security.

Internet security solution provider Network Surfilter Network Technology Co and data security developer Toyou Feiji Electronics Co both rose by the daily limit of 10 percent to 34.05 and 37.37 yuan, respectively.

ChiNext, China's NASDAQ-style board for high-tech and fast-growing start-ups listed in Shenzhen, fell by 1.94 points or 0.15 percent to 1,291.85 points on Tuesday.