China's key stock index closes at highest since 2013

China's key stock index, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, closed at its highest level since March 2013 on Wednesday as strong heavyweights lifted market sentiment.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index went up 1.47 percent to finish at 2,343.57 points, while the Shenzhen Component Index gained 1.69 percent to close at 8,100.22 points.

Total turnover on the two bourses expanded to 388.8 billion yuan (63.2 billion U.S. dollars).

The securities sector led the march on Wednesday, with Soochow Securities, Western Securities and Changjiang securities all surging by the daily limit of 10 percent to end the day at 9.93 yuan, 14.08 yuan and 6.77 yuan, respectively.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 16.43 points, or 1.1 percent, to end at 1,517.42 points on Wednesday.