(Yicai Global) Jan. 17 -- China's Stock Markets dropped at the dinner bell. Three benchmark indexes fell in afternoon trading.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.42 percent lower at 2,559.72 points, with a trading volume of CNY127.4 billion (USD18.85 billion). The Shenzhen Component Index ended 0.93 percent lower at 7470.36 points after churning over CNY166.6 billion.

Dragged down by software stocks, The ChiNext Index, China's Nasdaq-style board of growth companies, close 1.25 percent down to 1,251.70 points at the finish with CNY49.2billion swapped.

Gold industry stocks rallied at the finish to defy the trend.