Chinese shares rebound from losses after quake

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.8 percent, or 63.41 points, to 3,623.65 by the midday break. It fell 1.8 percent Tuesday, when a total of 66 companies were suspended from trading on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges as regulators sought to gauge the impact of Monday's 7.9-magnitude quake.

The Shenzhen Composite Index on China's smaller, second bourse gained 1.9 percent by midday to 1,130.45.

The rally was led by banks and other financials. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China rose 2.3 percent and China Merchants Bank gained 1.8 percent.

Television maker Sichuan Changhong fell 5.5 percent in early trading after the company said the disaster had affected their operations. Others expected to feel the impact included major insurers and toll road operators based in the region.

In a statement on its Web site, the Shanghai Stock Exchange said 32 companies based in the quake region resumed trading Wednesday morning. Ten companies' shares remained suspended pending announcements on the impact of the disaster, and another three companies remained suspended from trading Wednesday for various other reasons, it said.

Major contractor China Railway Erju Co. and Dongfang Electric, a leading producer of power generating equipment, were among the companies whose shares were still suspended from trading, the exchange said.

The Shanghai exchange suspended 45 companies from trading Tuesday; Shenzhen suspended 21 companies listed there.

The Shenzhen Stock Exchange said Wednesday that shares in 19 companies based in Sichuan and the adjacent municipality of Chongqing remained suspended from trading pending full estimation of the impact from the earthquake on their operations and financial status.