(Yicai Global) Aug. 31 -- China's mainland stock markets went higher into lunchtime following a solid morning opening, after data the National Bureau of Statistics released today show the country's economy expanding for the sixth straight month in August.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.8 percent higher at 3,430.88 at the half break. The Shenzhen Component Index was at 13,937.01, up 0.62 percent and the ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, climbed 0.35 percent to 2,767.51.

China's official purchasing managers' index for manufacturing slid 0.1 percentage point from last month to 51 percent this month, but nevertheless stayed in expansion territory for the sixth month as the Covid-19 pandemic eases.

The PMI for non-manufacturing business activities was up 0.1 percentage point to 55.2 percent in the period.

Editor: Ben Armour