Stock markets begin the week on positive note

Stock markets in the Chinese mainland began the week with a rise on Monday.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index was up by 19.57 points or 0.92 percent to 2,135.42 points on Monday. The Shenzhen Component Index closed up by 60.21 points or 0.76 percent at 7,943.96 points.

Combined turnover on the two bourses on Monday was 310.37 billion yuan ($51.18 billion), up from Friday's 245.77 billion yuan.

The gain on Monday was led by the national security and IT sectors, electronics makers, automakers, insurers, and liquor makers while banks and logistics companies fell back.

Stocks linked to national security rose on Monday with investors eyeing reform and policy announcements from the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference - the two sessions - which are scheduled to be held in early March in Beijing. Four stocks, including Shenzhen Zhengtong Electronic Co, soared by the daily limit of 10 percent.

Media speculation that Tencent Holdings Ltd will invest in restaurant review site Dianping boosted related stocks such as Sinolink Securities Co. Sinolink unveiled a strategic cooperation with Tencent in November 2013.

After a rally last week, the gold price hit a three-month high on Monday, boosting gold firms. Shares in Goldleaf Jewelry Co rose by the daily limit of 10 percent to 13.77 yuan while Henan Yuguang Gold and Leaf Co was up by 4.94 percent to 9.99 yuan.

Recently listed stocks continued to attract investors. Fourteen stocks, including Zhejiang Yueling Co, jumped by the daily limit of 10 percent on Monday.

ChiNext, China's NASDAQ-style board for high-tech and fast-growing start-ups listed in Shenzhen, rose on Monday by 42.83 points or 2.83 percent to 1,558.62 points, a record high.