(Yicai Global) Dec. 3 -- Key stock benchmarks on the Chinese mainland opened lower this morning after American markets plunged yesterday.

The Shanghai Composite Index opened 0.21 percent lower at 2,869.88, while the Shenzhen Component Index was at 9,585.75, down 0.2 percent. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, started 0.28 percent lower at 1,664.79.

The United States' big three benchmarks all dived nearly 1 percent yesterday after hitting record highs last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.96 percent, the Nasdaq 1.12 percent and the S&P 500 Index slid 0.86 percent.

Editor: James Boyton