SHANGHAI Stock Exchange is curbing bond issuers from using repurchase agreements, or repos, in structured financing, four sources said late Monday, as regulators step up efforts to contain financial risk.

In a notice issued by the exchange, regulators also urged institutions to strengthen risk-management in the repo businesses, the sources said.

In such structured financing business, issuers use their own bonds as collateral to borrow money from the market, a practice that increases leverage and risk.

Risks in China’s banking system rose after the surprise takeover of Baoshang Bank in May which shocked the market and boosted funding costs for small financial institutions who find their creditworthiness questioned.

Financial market jitters also exposed weak risk management at some financial institutions, which act as intermediaries for repo-based structural financing.

“After the Baoshang incident, many institutions have started cleaning up their repo business,” said a trading manager at a brokerage who declined to be identified.

Another trader said tougher regulations would make it harder for companies to issue bonds via private placements.(SD-Agencies)