(Yicai Global) Oct. 16 --  China's mainland stock markets declined in the afternoon as tamed market  sentiments pushed three major benchmarks down.

The Shanghai Composite  Index fell 0.41 percent to 2,978.71. The Shenzhen Component Index  dropped 0.31 percent to 9,642.06. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks  growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, slid 0.27 percent to 1,656.37.

Editor: Emmi Laine