(Yicai Global) April 1 - China's mainland stock markets failed to sustain momentum of their promising opening this morning and closed lower, though semi-conductors surged on this April Fool's Day of trading.

The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.57 percent to 2,734.52, with a volume of CNY225.6 billion (USD32 billion), the Shenzhen Component Index dipped 0.11 percent to 9,951.84 on turnover of CNY359.2 billion, and the ChiNext, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen market, closed 0.38 percent lower, with CNY109.7 billion changing hands.

Agricultural shares and stock breeders were the day's worst performers.

Editor: Ben Armour