(Yicai Global) July 14 -- China’s mainland stock markets closed lower this afternoon while foreign investors sold the largest volume of shares via the mainland's two stock connect schemes with Hong Kong over a single day. Securities brokers, duty-free shop operators, and mask producers were among the worst-performing shares.

The Shanghai Composite Index finished 0.83 percent lower at 3,414.62, with a turnover of CNY707.3 billion (USD100.8 billion) for the day. The Shenzhen Component Index slid 1.08 percent to 13,996.46 with a trading volume of CNY997.2 billion. The ChiNext, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, fell 1.06 percent to 2,858.67 points, with CNY323.8 billion in turnover.

Foreign investors sold CNY17.4 billion (USD2.5 billion) worth of equities through the two stock connect schemes between Shanghai and Hong Kong, as well as Shenzhen and Hong Kong, setting a new historic high.

However, not everyone was selling. The fields of shipbuilders, urban landscaping, and military, kept on rising throughout the day.

Editor: Emmi Laine