SHANGHAI: China shares settled higher on Wednesday after the country's biggest listed banks posted solid first-quarter profits, and as investors saw signs of lockdown easing, but lingering worries over the coronavirus pandemic capped gains.

At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.44% at 2,822.44. The blue-chip CSI300 index ended 0.46% higher.

The gains were driven by banking shares after China's big four lenders reported higher profits for the first quarter despite the impact of the pandemic.

A CSI sub-index tracking banks jumped 2.38% and the CSI300 financials sub-index added 1.87%.

Investors were awaiting official manufacturing data due Thursday, with a Reuters poll of economists showing China's factory activity likely rose for a second straight month in April as more businesses reopened.

Adding to signals that Beijing sees the country returning to normal, China said its parliament would open a key annual session, initially scheduled for March 5, on May 22.

But elsewhere in the market performance was mixed amid lingering concerns over the pandemic. The CSI consumer staples sub-index fell 1.73%, the real estate index added 2.13% and the healthcare sub-index lost 1.32%.

The smaller Shenzhen index ended down 0.1% and the start-up board ChiNext Composite index was unchanged.

Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was firmer by 0.98%, while Japan's Nikkei index closed down 0.06%.

At 07:17 GMT, the yuan was quoted at 7.0769 per U.S. dollar, 0.05% firmer than the previous close of 7.0804.

The largest percentage gainers in the main Shanghai Composite index were Guirenniao Co Ltd, up 10.19%, followed by Nanjing Chixia Development Co Ltd, gaining 10.16%, and CITIC Heavy Industries Co Ltd, up by 10.12%.

The largest percentage losers in the Shanghai index were Xin Jiang Ready Health Industry Co Ltd, down 10.09%, followed by Shangying Global Co Ltd, losing 10.03%, and Hubei Mailyard Share Co Ltd, down by 10.02%.

So far this year, the Shanghai stock index is down 7.5% and the CSI300 has fallen 5.6%, while China's H-share index listed in Hong Kong is down 10.3%. Shanghai stocks have risen 2.62% this month.