(Yicai  Global) March 18 -- Major stock benchmarks on the Chinese mainland closed at their lowest in six weeks today uncertainty surrounding the Covid-10 pandemic dampened investor confidence throughout Asia.

The Shanghai Composite Index was down 1.83 percent at 2,728.76 when the closing bell rang, while the Shenzhen Component Index finished 1.70 percent weaker at 10,029.57. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, closed down 1.60 percent at 1,887.04.