Chinese shares close slightly higher

Chinese equities closed slightly higher on Thursday, led by securities and steel companies.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 9.26 points, or 0.31 percent, to end at 2,979.79.

The Shenzhen Component Index increased 34.27 points, or 0.29 percent to close at 12,010.18.

Combined turnover shrank to 179.58 billion yuan ($26.29 billion) from previous day's 216.93 billion yuan.

Source: BizChina