(Yicai Global) March 22 -- Stock markets on the Chinese mainland recovered morning losses of over 1 percent to close the day roughly flat as investors hold back following yesterday's gains.

The Shanghai Composite Index finished up 0.09 percent at 3,104.15, with investors trading over CNY356.6 billion (USD53.2 billion) worth of shares, CNY47.3 billion less than yesterday. The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 9,879.22, up 0.1 percent with turnover of CNY445.2 billion, while the ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, was 0.59 percent lower at 1,693.87 after CNY117.7 billion of shares swapped hands.

More sectors finished up than down, with tourism and accommodation both rising over 3 percent after China's cabinet said this morning that it would re-schedule the International Labor Day vacation to span four consecutive days instead of a single day, which is expected to stimulate tourism consumption in May.

Agriculture, communication, insurance, securities and internet firms closed down more than 1 percent on average.

Editor: James Boynton