Bird flu worries are continuing to reverberate through China’s stock markets, with automakers now rising on expectations that more Chinese will use private cars in preference to risking exposure to H7N9 by using public transport.

Anhui Jianghuai Automobile led the advance, adding 7.5 per cent to 6.91 yuan as of 1.18 pm on Tuesday. China’s largest automaker SAIC Motor added 2.24 per cent to 15.06 yuan. Changan Automobile, the Chinese partner of Ford Motor and Mazda Motor, jumped 3.31 per cent to 9.68 yuan.