Stocks struggle to close in higher territory on Monday

BEIJING - Chinese stocks fluctuated and struggled to end the trading day in positive territory on Monday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.41 percent to 3,250.81 points. The smaller Shenzhen index closed 0.16 percent higher at 10,532.33 points. The ChiNext Index, which tracks China's high-growth enterprises, gained 0.21 percent to close at 1,953.82 points.

Combined turnover rose to 495.73 billion yuan ($71.95 billion).

After market close on Friday, Beijing announced new curbs on the city's real estate market, joining several other cities in efforts to cool surging prices.