(Yicai Global) Dec. 18 -- A sharp decline in real estate stocks late this morning pushed Chinese mainland stock markets down just ahead of the lunch break after a shaky start to the day.

The Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.1 percent to 2,569.65 at the lunch break, with a trading volume of CNY56.4 billion (USD8.2 billion). The Shenzhen Composite Index was at 7,493.69, down 1.3 percent after CNY75.3 billion worth of shares swapped hands.

The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, closed down 0.86 percent at 1,287.95, with investors trading CNY23.5 billion worth of shares.

China's stock markets opened down earlier this morning, following in the footsteps of American exchanges as the United States Federal Reserve prepares to unveil the fourth interest rate hike of the year later this week. The Chinese indexes rebounded briefly in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the country's opening up and reform, but the property plummet quickly ended the revival.