(Yicai Global) Sept. 18 -- Chinese mainland stock markets finished the week higher with insurance companies and securities firms soaring today.

The Shanghai Composite Index ended the day at 3,338.09, up 2.07 percent. It has risen 2.38 percent this week. The Nasdaq-like Star Market 50 Index was up 1.47 percent at 1,430.9 in the afternoon, soaring 6.96 percent this week.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 13,245.0, up 1.77 percent. Its five-day increase was 2.33 percent. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, edged up 1.52 percent to 2,596.08 while its gain for the week was 2.34 percent.

Insurers' shares advanced 7.64 percent today amid optimistic market expectations of their earnings in the last quarter of this year. New China Life Insurance [SHA:601336] and China Life Insurance [SHA:601628] were some of the firms that touched the 10-percent daily limit-up. Meanwhile, securities companies closed 5.55 percent higher.

Editor: Emmi Laine