(Yicai Global) Feb. 22 -- China's mainland stock markets began the day slightly lower in spite of the prolonged rallies of shares related to fifth-generation mobile networks. 

The Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.09 percent to open at 2,749.46 points. The Shenzhen Component Index slid 0.24 percent to 8,431.56 points. The ChiNext Price Index, tracking Shenzhen's small caps, dropped 0.19 percent to 1,409.86 points.

Chinese 5G firms started rising yesterday, some up to the daily limit of 10 percent, in the run-up to the Mobile World Congress 2019 that will open in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 25. Many tech firms, including OnePlus and Huawei Technologies, have announced that the conference audience will catch the first glimpses of their pioneering 5G phones.

Editor: Emmi Laine