Chinese equities edged up by 0.98 percent Wednesday, rising for a fifth trading day in a row, led by banks and coal producers.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index finished the day at 2,592.52 points, up 25.18 points. The Shenzhen Component Index advanced 2.02 percent, or 201.26 points, to 10,149.07.

Gainers outnumbered losers by 650 to 194 in Shanghai and 562 to 156 in Shenzhen.

Combined turnover is 236.2 billion yuan (34.74 billion U.S. dollars), slightly higher than the previous trading day.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2009)