(Yicai Global) April 14 -- China's mainland stock markets bounced back as newly released first-quarter trade data show an improved economic picture after the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic earlier in the year.

The Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.68 percent to 2,801.95 at the lunch break. The Shenzhen Component Index rose 1.26 percent to 10,350.54. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, gained 1.81 percent to 1,957.90

China's trade surplus fell to CNY98.3 billion (USD14 billion) in the first three months, though down some 81 percent from the same period last year, it was within the range of market expectation and shows a marked improvement last month from February.

The overall trade volume was CNY2.45 trillion (USD350 billion) in March, down almost 1 percent in an improvement from the 9.5 percent drop of the first two months.

Editor: Ben Armour