THE securities regulator said Friday there will be no change to the NASDAQ-style board ChiNext listing process, a day after speculation that a new registration system would be introduced helped trigger a slide of more than 6 percent in the main stock index.

    Earlier last week, rumors circulated among market insiders that the Shenzhen-based ChiNext would halt listings from March 1, making way for a new registration process. Currently, firms have to gain regulator approval to list on both the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges.

    Traders speculated that the main board and another Shenzhen-based market, the small and medium enterprise board, would not be affected.

    “We strongly condemn these irresponsible and false rumors,” said the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) in a question and answer posted on its official website Friday.

    The CSRC said there were no immediate plans to change the ChiNext listing approval system to a registration-based one.

    China’s main Shanghai Composite Index tumbled 6.4 percent Thursday, posting their biggest one-day loss in a month, hit by rumors including those about the ChiNext market and as investors booked profits after the market’s recent rebound. (SD-Agencies)