Chinese shares close higher Wednesday

BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 1.19 percent to 3,870.28 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 2.4 percent higher at 13,224.51 points.

The combined turnover of these two indices stood at 1.81 trillion yuan (about 256.61 billion U.S. dollars), up from 1.72 trillion yuan on the previous trading day.

Stocks related to computing hardware, lithium mining, and precious metals led the gains while those related to commercial aerospace, liquor, and real estate led the losses.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 3.39 percent to close at 3,175.91 points. ■