SHANGHAI: China stocks ended higher on Wednesday, underpinned by gains in tech-heavy start-up board ChiNext and healthcare shares, after the state planner said the country would accelerate development of coronavirus vaccines.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.17% at 3,279.71. The blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.36% at 4,652.33.
The smaller Shenzhen index ended up 0.72% and the start-up board ChiNext Composite index ended 1.735% higher.
A sub-index tracking healthcare shares closed 3% higher, after the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said China will boost investment in strategic industries, including core tech sectors, while the country will also speed up development of vaccine innovation, diagnostic, testing reagents and antibody drugs.