ChiNext stocks declined 0.18 percent, or 2.18 points, to open at 1,209.62 points Thursday.

The index, officially launched on June 1 on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, has a base value of 1,000 points.

The ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and the Shenzhen SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) Board Index, makes up the three core indices reflecting the performance of China's stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.