China financial regulators support stocks with policy outlook, cash

[SHANGHAI] Chinese regulators leapt to support stock markets early on Tuesday, the day after a major crash, with the central bank pouring cash into the money market system and the securities regulator suggesting it might restrict share sales by major shareholders.

The unexpected 130 billion yuan (S$28.4 billion) injection by the central bank during open market operations - the largest such injection since September - appeared timed to reassure Chinese retail investors, who are always sensitive to liquidity signals, that the bank would support the market with cash.

China's securities regulator said it is studying rules to regulate share sales by major shareholders and senior executives in listed companies.

This would indirectly address concerns that the end of a 6-month lockup on share sales by major institutional investors - scheduled to free up an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan worth of shares for sale next Monday - would result in a massive institutional evacuation from stocks.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission also defended the functioning of the new "circuit breaker" policy that caused Chinese stock markets to suspend trade on Monday after markets fell 7 per cent, triggering the mechanism on the very first day it came into effect.

While some analysts criticised the design of the circuit breaker, saying it inadvertently encouraged bearish sentiment, the CSRC said the mechanism had helped calm markets and protect investors - although it said the mechanism needs to be further improved.

The measures appeared to have had some effect by mid-morning. While major indexes opened more than 2.5 per cent lower, they quickly recovered into positive territory.

REUTERS