China’s securities regulator asked brokerages to step up their support for share prices by contributing 100 billion yuan ($15.7 billion) to the nation’s market rescue fund and increasing stock buybacks, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported. The China Securities Regulatory Commission gave the order on rescue-fund contributions at a meeting with representatives of 50 brokerages, which CSRC Chairman Xiao Gang also attended, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the meeting hasn’t been made public. The regulator encouraged listed brokerages to buy back shares worth as much as 10% of their total market value. China revived its stock-market rescue program on Aug. 27 after the government’s absence from the market earlier in the week contributed to the biggest two-day selloff since 1996. Policy makers are trying to bolster shares before President Xi Jinping takes the stage in a World War II victory parade this week. China’s Shanghai Composite Index dropped 2.8%.
