Chinese stocks closed higher on Thursday -- the first trading day following the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday on October 1-8, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 1.32 percent to 3,933.97 points, hitting its highest level in more than a decade.
The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.47 percent higher at 13,725.56 points.
The combined turnover of these two indices stood at 2.65 trillion yuan (about 372.7 billion U.S. dollars) -- up from 2.18 trillion yuan on the previous trading day.
Shares related to nonferrous metals, nuclear power and rare-earth permanent magnets led the gains, while stocks related to cinema chains, tourism and education suffered major losses.
The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, ended 0.73 percent higher at 3,261.82 points.
Chinese shares close higher Thursday
China on Sunday unveiled an updated version of its national medical insurance drug list and the inaugural edition of the commercial insurance innovative drug list, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration.
The updated national medical insurance drug list has added 114 drugs, among which 50 are innovative pharmaceuticals. It has incorporated certain medications that fill the gaps in basic medical insurance coverage, such as drugs for major diseases, rare diseases, and chronic conditions.
The commercial insurance innovative drug list included 19 drugs for the treatment of tumors, rare diseases, and Alzheimer's, among others.
The country's medical insurance authority has adjusted the list for eight years in a row, increasing the total number of medications to 3,253 and significantly improving coverage in key areas such as oncology, chronic diseases, mental illnesses, rare diseases, and pediatric medications.
China updates national medical insurance catalog, adds 114 new drugs
