By the end of March 2004, 1,302 enterprises were listed in Chinese mainland stock markets, with total circulation value of 1.59 trillion yuan (US$191.6 billion), according to figures from the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

The total turnover in the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange, the only two stock markets in Chinese mainland, stood at 569.72 billion yuan in March, down 20.08 percent from February.

Investors had opened 71.04 million accounts at the two exchanges by March, figures showed.

Since 2001, China's stock market has experienced a chilly "winter", deprived numerous individuals of their hard-earned money, and forced a number of local securities dealers onto the brink of bankruptcy.

Meanwhile, a series of scandals about listed companies engaged in false financial reports or other fraudulent activities further irritated domestic investors. Some angry investors sued manipulators.

Early this year, securities investors restored their confidences since the government made a call for further developing the country's capital market. The two stock markets surged immediately after the favorable news.