(Yicai Global) Aug. 31 -- China's mainland stock markets opened higher this morning, continuing the trend of the last trading day on Aug. 28. Securities brokerages led the markets from the get-go, and went even higher in midmorning.

The Shanghai Composite Index opened 0.37 percent higher at 3,416.55. The Shenzhen Component Index was at 13,929.75, up 0.57 percent. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, rose 0.43 percent to 2,769.83.

Securities firms went up nearly 2 percent around 10.00 a.m. after a strong open. Sichuan-based Sinolink Securities [SHA:600109] surged 6.27 percent to CNY16.10 (USD2.35) as the top gainer thus far.

Editor: Ben Armour