(Yicai Global) Dec. 19 -- Chinese stock markets close lower in the morning after rising slightly at the opening bell as investors held back following several days of gains this week.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed for lunch at 3,010.86, down 0.2 percent, while the Shenzhen Component Index fell 0.37 percent at 10,267.24. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks Shenzhen-listed growth enterprises, slipped 0.5 percent to 1,783.53.