Chinese shares close mixed

BEIJING - Chinese stocks closed mixed on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.02 percent, at 2,806.91 points.

The smaller Shenzhen index closed 0.4 percent higher at 9,733.74 points. The ChiNext Index of growth enterprises, gained 0.84 percent to close at 2,037.4 points.

Total turnover dropped to 376 billion yuan ($57 billion) from 417 billion yuan the previous trading day.

Rare earth and permanent magnet sectors gained the most. Sinosteel Anhui Tianyuan Technology Co Ltd rose by the daily limit of 10 percent to end at 13.48 yuan per share.

Stocks related to securities dropped across the board. Sealand Securities Co Ltd dropped 1.24 percent to end at 10.37 yuan per share.