(Yicai Global) Jan. 28 -- China's mainland stock markets further retreated after opening lower today while semiconductor companies declined the most. But the online entertainment sector rose against the trend.

The Shanghai Composite Index slid 1.48 percent to 3,520.28 by the lunch break. The Shenzhen Component Index was at 15,014.17, down 2.59 percent. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, declined by 2.72 percent to 3,191.88.

Shares of chip cleaning firm PNC Process Systems [SHA:603690] slumped by the daily limit of 10 percent. Anji-based semiconductor materials supplier Microelectronics Technology [SHA:688019] dropped 8.4 percent.

Online entertainment companies have been rising over these past two days as investors anticipate consumers to stay home during the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays amid the country's resurging Covid-19 cases. TV program producer New Culture Media Group [SHE:300336] jumped almost 19.9 percent this morning.

Editor: Emmi Laine