(Yicai Global) March 31 - China's mainland stock markets opened higher this morning, with the semiconductor and finance sectors among largest gainers.

The Shanghai Composite Index opened 0.73 percent higher at 2,767.31, while the Shenzhen Component index started up 1.04 percent at 10,008.03. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen market, increased by 0.87 percent to 1,876.69.

Medical equipment makers and firms in agricultural sectors, which surged yesterday, were among biggest losers.

The Dow Jones closed up 3.2 percent at 22,327.48 and the S&P 500 closed up 3.3 percent at 2,626.65, while the NASDAQ closed up 3.6 percent at 7,774.15 overnight.

Editor: James Boynton