BEIJING, May 4 -- Chinese companies listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange posted improving profitability in 2013, said a report released by the bourse on Sunday evening.

A total of 1,577 companies raked in 323.7 billion yuan (52.2 billion U.S. dollars) in net profits in 2013, up 17.3 percent year on year, after an overall decline in 2012.

Last year, 242 companies posted net profit increase of over 50 percent, 68 more than in 2012, according to the report. The average loss of 129 companies was 216 million yuan, some 70 million less than that in 2012.