Shanghai Composite Index ends higher

Chinese mainland stocks closed higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.1 percent at 3,689.91 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.19 percent higher at 11,471.09 points.

Yuan strengthens to 6.7156 against dollar

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 24 pips to 6.7156 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. The central parity rate of the yuan against the US dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.

XINHUA-CHINA DAILY