China's stock markets saw a total of 6,673 A-share (Renminbi-denominated) accounts registered Monday, the most since the beginning of this year, the Securities Times reported Wednesday.

The figure was provided by the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation, according to the newspaper.

China's shares opened higher on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges on Feb. 6, the first trading day since Jan. 26th when the markets closed to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Following impressive increases in the month before the holiday, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A- and B-shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, rose 2.35 percent to 1,287.63 points on the first trading day after holiday.

Figures show 195 accounts were newly opened in China's B-share markets, where share prices are in U.S. dollars and are available to overseas investors.

As of Nov. 30, 2005, a total of 70.22 million A-share accounts were registered in China's two stock exchanges, according to figures from the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation.

Source: Xinhua