Markets score post-holiday victory

Rallies within the heavily-weighted real estate and financial sectors pushed stock markets on the Chinese mainland higher Tuesday, the first day of trading following the week-long National Day holidays.

The Shanghai Composite Index picked up 23.53 points, or 1.08 percent, to close at 2,198.20; while the Shenzhen Component Index jumped 166.96 points, or 1.96 percent, to end at 8,681.53.

Elsewhere, the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) board index advanced 1.62 percent to 5,319.49; while the ChiNext index tacked on 1.44 percent to conclude at 1,387.66.

Combined trading volume reached 239.69 billion yuan ($39.17 billion), leaping from 180.59 billion yuan on September 30.

The average home price within 100 major Chinese cities accelerated to 10,554 yuan per square meter in September, marking the 16th straight month of increase, according to a China Index Academy report issued last week.

This data, combined with reports of strong home sales over the holiday, gave shares exposed to real estate a boost when bourses reopened. Property developers were up an average of 3.2 percent Tuesday, with sector blue chips China Vanke Co, China Merchants Property Development Co and Poly Real Estate Group Co each rising more than 4 percent.

Environmental protection stocks got a nudge from the heavy smog and airborne pollution which recently blanketed Beijing and surrounding cities. On average, sector components were up 4.8 percent by the close of trading Tuesday.

Two State-owned media groups - Wenhui-Xinmin United Press Group and Jiefang Daily Group in Shanghai - are reportedly preparing to merge, a restructuring which analysts say heralds a new round of media sector consolidation. Also in the media sector, Leshi Internet Information & Technology Corp hit the 10-percent daily limit.