(Yicai Global) July 3 -- China's mainland stock markets closed lower today. Shipbuilding and gold were the only stars in the day's otherwise lackluster performance.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.94 percent lower at 3,015.26, while the Shenzhen Component Index was down 1.32 percent at 9,419.84 at the bell. The ChiNext ended the day 1.67 percent higher at 1,544.36.

Shipbuilding stocks got a fresh wind in their sails in the afternoon, after falling back from yesterday's surge in this morning's doldrums, to make 3.94 percent headway on average. Gold shares followed immediately in their wake to log a 1 percent average increase.

Editor: Ben Armour