Ecological shares help stocks close higher

A man is reflected on an electronic board displaying share prices in Huaibei, Anhui province, Nov 14, 2012. [Photo by Wu He/Asianewsphoto]

BEIJING - Chinese stocks rose slightly on Wednesday driven by ecological shares.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.37 percent, or 7.53 points, to 2,055.42, while the Shenzhen Component Index closed at 8,283.56, up 48.96 points, or 0.59 percent.

Combined turnover dipped to 72.7 billion yuan (11.54 billion U.S. dollars) from 86.29 billion yuan against the previous trading day.

Gainers outnumbered losers by 561 to 352 in Shanghai and by 871 to 594 in Shenzhen.

An amendment to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was approved on Wednesday, highlighting the need to promote ecological progress, according to a resolution approved by the 18th CPC National Congress.

The "beautiful China" concept shares -- those related to ecological construction, including forestry, water conservancy, environmental protection and energy conservation -- extended robust performances on Wednesday.

Huahong Technology, a producer of equipment to reproduce waste for metals, hit the daily rise limit of 10 percent. Fujian Jinsen Forestry, a company providing saplings, also hit the daily limit.