(Yicai Global) Aug. 20 – The three major Chinese mainland indexes closed lower this afternoon as surging virtual currency stocks’ failed to buoy the market.

The Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.30 percent to 3,363.90, while the Shenzhen Component Index was down 1.19 percent to 13,320.92. The ChiNext, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, closed 0.96 percent lower at 2,587.86.

Hardware, software and payment service providers such as Hebei Huijin Electromechanical [SHE:300368] and Guangzhou Kingteller Technology [SHE:002177] rose to the 10 percent upper limit, and Hyunion Holding [SHE:002537] rose 7.21 percent on recent pilot testing of a national digital currency with limited deployments in retail, mass transit card recharges and catering in some China cities.

Agriculture, military, auto, coal and banking shares were the biggest losers.

Editor: Ben Armour