(Yicai Global) Dec. 18 -- China’s mainland stock markets all gained this morning, buoyed by a surge in the coal sector as a harsh winter stokes demand, driving up prices of the black gold.

Coal producers’ share prices surged 5.5 percent on average by midday. The early onset of a hard winter has put a strain on the country’s electricity supply as people turn up the heating. Two provinces, eastern Zhejiang and central Hunan, have already introduced measures to ration power.

The Shanghai Composite Index nudged up 0.13 percent to 3,409.31. The Star 50 Index, which tracks tech stocks on Shanghai’s Nasdaq-style Star Market, rose 0.49 percent to 1,370.04.

The Shenzhen Component Index gained 0.19 percent to 13,915.7. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, advanced 0.34 percent to 2,787.78.

Editor: Kim Taylor