(Photo: sina)

BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese stocks closed higher Monday, with cement firms leading the gains.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index increased 0.91 percent to close at 2,703.51, while the Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.58 percent higher at 8,108.85.

Combined turnover of stocks in the two indices stood at 440.2 billion yuan (about 63.4 billion U.S. dollars), narrowing from 475.9 billion yuan the previous trading day.

Cement producers saw the best stock performance among all industries. Shares of Tangshan Jidong Cement and Sichuan Shuangma Cement both surged by the daily limit of 10 percent.

Securities brokers jumped in the afternoon session. Tianfeng Securities rose by the daily limit of 10 percent, while Nanjing Securities climbed 5.2 percent.

The ChiNext Index, China's NASDAQ-style board, lost 0.63 percent to close at 1,394.4 points.