(Yicai Global) Nov. 1 -- China's stock markets inched up during the morning session, with market players continuing to test the waters following Monday's freefall. 

Overall market confidence was improved somewhat, with market turnover up compared with yesterday morning's trading, and the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index stayed above 3,400 points again for most of the morning session.

Leading out-performing sectors included the semiconductor and metals sectors, though several of yesterday's hot sectors such as Free trade zones and Shanghai's state-owned companies facing restructuring underperformed today, emphasizing the speculative nature of the current market.

The Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.18 percent to 3,399.36 points at the close, with turnover of CNY135.6 billion (USD20.45 billion), up from yesterday morning's CNY106.7 billion.

The Shenzhen Component Index fell to 11,383.81 points, up 0.14 percent, with CNY145.3 billion exchanged, compared with yesterday morning session's CNY125.8 billion.

The Growth Enterprise Index, mostly comprising small-cap companies, was up 0.36 percent at 1,876.51 points, with CNY42.53 billion changing hands, higher than the previous morning's CNY33.6 billion.