Consumer staples, healthcare prop up Chinese blue chips

China shares gained on Tuesday after the country kept its lending benchmark steady for a 12th straight month, helping to ease persistent investor concerns over the impact of possible policy tightening, Reuters reports.

At the midday break, the Shanghai Composite index was up by 0.29 percent at 3,487.60 points.

The blue-chip CSI300 index was up by 0.38 percent, after posting its best session in more than five weeks on Monday.

Gains were driven by the consumer staples sector, which jumped by 2.14 percent, and healthcare shares, which won 0.75 percent. The CSI new energy vehicles index, which drove Monday's gains, added 0.74 percent.

Refinitiv data showed small net outflows through the Stock Connect scheme as foreign investors sold shares.