China Stock Traders Load Up on Leverage With New Rule Relaxation

Leveraged China equity positions saw their biggest daily increase in over three years on Monday as new rules took effect that lower the deposit ratio for high-risk trades including short sales.

(Bloomberg) — Leveraged China equity positions saw their biggest daily increase in over three years on Monday as new rules took effect that lower the deposit ratio for high-risk trades including short sales.

The increase pushed the total outstanding amount of margin debt to 1.5 trillion yuan ($205 million). That’s still more than a third below the peak in 2015, when easy access to leverage fueled a stock market bubble before officials moved to contain it.

The latest regulations on borrowing for trading came in a package of policies late last month aimed at reinvigorating stagnating capital markets and boosting investors confidence. In enacting the changes, which also included a stamp duty cut, regulators said investors have become more rational in recent years and risk-awareness has increased, while the amount of leverage is stable.

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