(Yicai Global) Jan. 21 -- Stock markets on the Chinese mainland charged out of the gates this morning as the country's data bureau unveiled economic expansion was greater than predicted last year.

The Shanghai Composite Index was at 2,609.59 as of 10.34 a.m., up 0.52 percent. The Shenzhen Component Index was at up 0.59 percent at 7,626.12 as of the same time, while the ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, was at 1,276.63 -- a 0.56 percent rise. All three indexes started the day at least 0.1 percent stronger.

The National Bureau of Statistics published the economic growth figures for 2018 this morning, posting a record high gross domestic product of CNY90 trillion (USD13.3 trillion) -- 6.6 percent higher than a year earlier and above the 6.5 percent forecast. The reading was slightly lower than the 6.8 percent expansion in 2017.

The liquor and food and beverage sectors were the fastest gainers, rising almost 2 percent each, and the electric appliance sector also gained 1.8 percent.   

Editor: James Boynton