Mainland stocks settle flat in run-up to New Year

Mainland stocks were little changed on Thursday, with optimism spurred by fading liquidity stress counterbalanced by investors staying wary of the prospect of regulatory measures to curb aggressive investment in stocks by insurers.

The blue-chip CSI300 index dipped 0.1 percent, to 3,297.76, while the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.2 percent to 3,096.10 points.

The market found some solace from progress made to avoid defaults resulting from a recent bond scandal. Sealand Securities said on Thursday it had signed agreements with 19 counterparties to resolve the "forged" bond dispute.