(Yicai Global) Sept. 22 -- Chinese stock markets opened lower this morning, following the dives of European and US markets, while gold-related shares plummeted due to the precious metal's slumping prices.

The Shanghai Composite Index started the day at 3,290.67, down 0.79 percent. The Shenzhen Component Index fell by 0.84 percent to 13,052.08. The ChiNext, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen dropped 0.5 percent to 2,556.46.

Gold-related equities moved down by more than 2 percent at the opening bell after the spot gold price in London closed down 1.9 percent to USD1,912.18 per ounce yesterday.

Major overseas stock benchmarks plunged last night. The DAX in Germany closed down 4.45 percent, the UK's FTSE 100 Index slid 3.39 percent, France's CAC 40 plummeted 3.74 percent.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.8 percent down, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1 percent, and the S&P 500 Index declined 1.2 percent. 

Editor: Emmi Laine