China's securities and futures exchange markets suspended trading temporarily on Monday afternoon in token of respect for the victims in the May 12 earthquake.

From 2:28 pm, the exact time when the powerful quake took place on May 12, both stock exchanges in Shanghai and Shenzhen and all commodity markets in Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Dalian suspended trading for three minutes, following an announcement issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission on Sunday night.

The China Financial Futures Exchange also paused its mock trading at the same time.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed Monday's trading at 3,604.76 points, dived 0.54 percent from the previous close. The Shenzhen Component Index on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange closed at 13,197.59 points, down 116.79 points.

The State Council, the Cabinet, on Sunday ordered a nationwide mourning for the dead from Monday to Wednesday, with flags to kept at half-mast and all public amusements suspended.

The public also stood in silence for three minutes from 2:28 pm, while automobiles, trains, and ships sounded their air sirens.

The death toll in the earthquake rose to 34,073 as 12:00 am Monday, while the number of injured reached 245,108, according to the earthquake relief headquarters of the State Council.