(Yicai Global) Aug. 26 -- Chinese stock markets recovered some ground after plunging at opening, with gold and pharmaceuticals leading the rise.

The Shanghai Composite Index ended at 2869.81, down 0.95 percent. The Shenzhen Component Index fell 0.72 percent to 9,295.35 and the ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, dropped 0.53 percent to 1,606.63.

Gold shares rose 2.3 percent at the lunch bell, while pharmaceutical shares swelled by  2 percent.

Editor: Ben Armour