Markets register slight advances

Stock markets on the Chinese mainland escaped a blustery trading day with modest victories Wednesday as concerns about changes to the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy diminished somewhat.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed at 2,072.96 after tacking on 0.37 points, or 0.02 percent; while the Shenzhen Component Index climbed 1.53 points, or 0.02 percent, to finish at 8,236.09.

Combined turnover of the two exchanges reached 170.3 billion yuan ($27.80 billion). down from Tuesday's 191.71 billion yuan.

Both indices opened higher and spent most of the morning swinging between losses and gains as investors searched for direction. Contractions in the property development and banking sectors dragged both indices lower in early afternoon trading. Late rises within several heavily weighted sectors gave equity benchmarks enough buoyancy to crack the break-even point in the final moments of trading.

Securities, coal, instruments, medical and electronic information shares scored most of Wednesday's biggest wins; while banking, Internet, electric power and real estate shares led the way into negative territory.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan Tuesday that China will continue to improve public health and promote Chinese medicine and medical products in overseas markets, the Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday. This show of support gave medical stocks a shot in the arm. PKU International Healthcare Group Southwest Pharmaceutical Co climbed 4.54 percent to 12.90 yuan. Lanzhou Foci Pharmaceutical Co edged up 5.12 percent to 24.41 yuan.

The coal sector also outperformed. Yanzhou Coal Mining Co climbed 2.68 percent to 10.71 yuan. Gansu Jingyuan Coal Industry and Electricity Power Co edged up 3.00 percent to 10.65 yuan on the day.

Everbright Securities Co shed 5.87 percent to 10.27 yuan Wednesday, narrowing its losses from Tuesday.