Chinese shares close mixed at midday Friday
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Chinese shares headed towards different directions during the morning session on Friday after a key reading indicated China's manufacturing activities accelerated.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 7.16 points, or 0.24 percent, to close the morning session at 2,935.28.
The Shenzhen Component Index fell 19.24 points, or 0.15 percent, to end at 12,543.66 for the morning break.
The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) of China's manufacturing sector rebounded from a slid for three consecutive months to 53.4 percent in March, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said Friday.
A PMI reading above 50 percent indicates economic expansion. One below 50 percent indicates contraction. China's PMI has been staying above the boom-or-bust line for 25 months in a row.
Investors remain cautious as the PMI figure might offer clues for the central bank, which is under great inflationary pressure, to cool down the economy through an interest rate hike or more tightening monetary policies in the weekend.
