BEIJING - Chinese stocks were lower in the morning session on Monday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.45 percent to 3,154.37 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index lost 0.21 percent to 9,775.43 points at midday. 

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 0.12 percent to 1,977.76 points in the morning session.

The ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and other indices, reflects the performance of stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.