Yuan weakens against greenback

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, weakened 68 pips to 7.2073 against the US dollar on Thursday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

Chinese mainland shares close higher

Chinese mainland stocks closed higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.28 percent to 3352 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.93 percent higher at 10197.66 points. The combined turnover of these two indices stood at about 1.29 trillion yuan ($179 billion), down from 1.47 trillion yuan on the previous trading day. Shares related to aircraft manufacturing and motorbike industries led the gains, while those linked to the ceramic, as well as pesticide and fertilizer sectors were among the biggest losers. The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 1.65 percent to close at 2029.45 points.