China's securities regulator said on Friday it has approved the country's Financial Futures Exchange to launch the SSE 50 stock index options trading from December 19.

The move is "conducive to comprehensively deepen the reform of the capital market," said China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) in a statement, adding it will help to "promote the stable and healthy development of the capital market."

The CSRC said it will urge the China Financial Futures Exchange to "further complete various tasks to ensure the smooth launch and stable operation of the SSE 50 stock index options."

(Cover: CFP)