Chinese shares advanced for the second consecutive day Tuesday, pushing up the benchmark index to the highest since June 28, as investors speculated the government might loosen tightening policies in the rest of the year after a slower economic growth.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 2.15 percent, or 53.31 points to end at 2,528.73 points.

The Shenzhen Stock Index climbed 2.40 percent, or 242.33 points, to 10,339.43 points.

Total turnover expanded sharply to 205.2 billion yuan (30.28 billion U.S. dollars) from 142.89 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

Winners outnumbered losers by 879 to 5 in Shanghai and 967 to 17 in Shenzhen.