Foreign investors trade A shares

Rule change seen as significant step to further open mainland's equity markets

Monday was the first trading day foreign individuals working on the Chinese mainland were allowed to trade in the country's A-share market. It marked a milestone in financial market opening-up, analysts said.

Individuals from overseas who work in China, as well as A-share listed companies' foreign employees living overseas who are granted stock option incentives, were allowed to open A-share accounts and trade freely in the market from Saturday. The change was announced by China Securities Depository and Clearing Corp Ltd in a statement published on Aug 15.