(Yicai Global) Nov. 18 -- China's benchmark stock indexes closed varied after a day of mixed signals with strong gains in the shares of financial companies and heavy losses in the medical tech sector.

Blue chip bank stocks helped lift the Shanghai bourse into positive territory. Xiamen Bank [SHA:601187] hit the exchange-imposed daily limit of 10 percent, rising to CNY10.13 (USD1.55). Industrial Bank [SHA:601166] surged 7.2 percent to CNY19.20 and China Everbright Bank [SHA:601818] advanced 4.69 percent to CNY4.24.

However, some drug developers slid heavily. Wuxi Apptec [SHA:603259] plunged 9.13 percent to CNY105.87 (USD16.1) and Pharmaron Beijing [SHE:300759] plummeted 9.96 percent to CNY103.07.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.22 percent at 3,347.30. The Shenzhen Component Index finished down 0.54 percent at 13,658.20 and the ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, ended the day down 1.41 percent at 2,620.67.

Editor: Kim Taylor