(Yicai  Global) April 17 -- Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher  today after the National Bureau of Statistics posted  better-than-expected data for economic expansion in the first quarter.

The  Shanghai Composite Index ended 0.29 percent higher at 3,263.12, while  the Shenzhen Component Index closed up 0.55 percent at 10,344.43. The  ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen,  finished 1.17 percent higher at 1,717.44.

China's  gross domestic product expanded 6.4 percent to CNY21.3 trillion (USD3.2  trillion) in the first quarter, according to the NBS figures published  earlier today. The rate was on par with the final quarter of 2018 and  beat the 6.3 percent forecasted growth.

China's economy has had a steady start to 2019 and there are indications of more positives to come, the bureau said.

Editor: James Boynton