(Yicai Global) Feb. 13 -- Stock markets on the Chinese mainland failed to sustain yesterday's upward momentum this morning as concerns about the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic appeared to resurface.

The Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.53 percent at 2,911.35 at the midday break, while the Shenzhen Component Index finished 0.63 percent weaker at 10,871.74. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, closed down 0.98 percent at 2,064.93.

Hubei province, the epicenter of the epidemic, added 14,840 new confirmed cases yesterday, the largest daily increase since the outbreak began as local health authorities start included clinically diagnosed cases in the confirmed category.