(Yicai Global) Dec. 17 -- Chinese stock markets closed higher this morning as shipping and port shares led the vanguard.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed at 3,388.24, up 0.63 percent at the lunch break. The Star 50 Index, which tracks tech stocks on Shanghai’s Nasdaq-style Star Market, rose 0.35 percent to 1,349.8.

The Shenzhen Component Index advanced 0.73 percent to 13,851.29. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, added 0.63 to 2,777.98.

Shipping shares surged 3.1 percent, while port stocks soared 2.8 percent.

China's foreign trade held to its upswing as the country’s Covid-19 control measures continued to demonstrate their effectiveness. Cargo throughput of the country's major coastal hub ports grew 1.7 percent per year from Dec. 1 to 10, data the China Ports Association released today show.

Editor: Ben Armour