1st LD-Writethru: Shanghai index closes higher on wider opening-up pledge, mild inflation

BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China's main Shanghai stock market rose slightly Wednesday, as investors gained strength from wider opening-up pledge and mild inflation data.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.56 percent, at 3,208.08. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.40 percent higher at 10,808.37.

Combined turnover on the two bourses stood at around 481.7 billion yuan (about 76.6 billion U.S. dollars), down from 485.2 billion yuan on the previous trading day.

Gold and military related shares led the climb, while automobile, Internet finance and cement sectors lost the most.

Official data showed Wednesday that the consumer price index, a main gauge of inflation, rose 2.1 percent year on year in March, down from 2.9 percent for February, indicating balanced supply and demand in a stabilizing economy.

China's vow to open "wider and wider" extended confidence to investors.

China said on Tuesday it will launch a number of landmark measures this year to significantly broaden market access.

The country will accelerate the opening up of the insurance industry, ease restrictions on the establishment of foreign financial institutions in China and expand their business scope, and open up more areas of cooperation between Chinese and foreign financial markets.

China also pledged measures including significantly lowering import tariffs for vehicles, while reducing import tariffs for some other products, and enhancing protection of intellectual property rights.

The ChiNext Index, which tracks China's NASDAQ-style enterprises, lost 0.05 percent to close at 1,834.63. Enditem