China Stocks Surge as Regulatory Measures Tame Short-Selling

China stocks rebounded after the securities regulator imposed further restrictions on short-selling, aiming to boost market sentiment. Changes include suspension of securities re-lending and raised margin requirements. Key indices in Shanghai and Hong Kong saw notable gains, with the CSI 300 and Hang Seng Index both rising significantly.

China stocks experienced a notable rebound on Thursday following the securities regulator's announcement of additional curbs on short-selling to enhance market sentiment. Significant gains were also observed in Hong Kong stocks.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission revealed on Wednesday that it would suspend securities re-lending, a process where brokers borrow shares for clients to short sell, and raised margin requirements for short-sellers. These measures came in response to a weaker-than-expected June consumer inflation figure, which had adversely affected market performance.

By midday, the Shanghai Composite index had risen by 0.77% to 2,961.99 points, while the blue-chip CSI 300 index climbed by 0.98%. The CSI's financial sector sub-index dipped by 0.75%, whereas consumer staples, real estate, and healthcare sectors saw increases ranging from 1.73% to 3.07%. New energy stocks led the gains with a surge of 3.8%, while Chinese H-shares in Hong Kong increased by 1.44% to 6,341.35, and the Hang Seng Index rose 1.54% to 17,740.44.

The smaller Shenzhen index rose by 2.03%, the ChiNext Composite index increased by 1.98%, and Shanghai's STAR50 index climbed by 0.83%. The Hang Seng energy index inched up by 0.1%, and the IT sector rose by 1.6%. Across the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was up 1.18%, while Japan's Nikkei index increased by 1.05%. The yuan strengthened slightly by 0.06%, quoted at 7.2714 per U.S. dollar, compared to the previous close of 7.276.

(With inputs from agencies.)