Regulator denies shift in M&A policy

China's top securities regulator said on Friday that current policies on refinancing and mergers and acquisitions by listed companies remain unchanged.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission was responding to an earlier media report the regulator had banned companies from selling new shares to invest, or conducting mergers and acquisitions in four sectors: online finance, gaming, film and television, and virtual reality.

"The regulator actively encourages qualified listed companies to refinance and conduct mergers and acquisitions in an effort to allow the capital market to serve the real economy," Deng Ge, CSRC spokesman told a news conference.