China’s CSRC Expands Corporate Bond Sale Rules as Economy Slows

China will allow more companies to sell bonds as authorities seek to temper a slowdown in the world’s second-biggest economy while balancing corporate debt levels that already exceed the U.S.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission, which governs bonds traded on the Shenzhen and Shanghai exchanges, said it will allow all companies to sell notes, including non-listed Chinese companies, according to a statement posted on its website Jan. 16. The rules, which apply to exchanged-traded and privately issued bonds, took effect from that day, according to the statement. Previously, only Chinese brokerages and locally and overseas-listed Chinese companies had been able to raise funds selling exchange-traded securities.