(Yicai Global) May 19 -- Chip firms in China's mainland stock markets skyrocketed in the afternoon and led all the major benchmarks to finish on an up note.

The Shanghai Composite Index ended 0.81 percent higher at 2,898.58. The Shenzhen Component Index was at 11,052.85, up 1.21 percent and the ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, climbed 1.38 percent to 2,144.12.

The microprocessor sector surged over 5 percent with a dozen firms hitting the daily 10 percent limit up. Leading state-backed chipmaker Unigroup Guoxin Microelectronics [SHE:002049] rose to stop trading at CNY75.35 (USD11). Guangdong Huate Gas [SHA:688268], a supplier of specialty gases used in the wafer industry, jumped 20 percent to CNY92.5 to butt against the sci-tech Star Market's daily price ceiling.

Editor: Ben Armour