(Yicai Global) April 16 -- Stock markets on the Chinese mainland rose rapidly ahead of the lunch break thanks to a surge in financial sectors.

The Shanghai Composite Index ended the morning session at 3,213.06, up 1.11 percent, while the Shenzhen Component Index closed up 0.55 percent at 10,108.96. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, slid 0.19 percent to 1,663.78.

The banking sector was up 2.82 percent on average, while insurers gained 2.59 percent through the morning and securities brokers leaped 1.95 percent.

Editor: James Boynton