The Beijing Stock Exchange (BSE) has officially launched margin trading and securities lending transactions on Monday, according to the bourse.

Eligible securities firms that are entrusted by investors to do so are to submit declarations for margin trading and securities lending transactions to the BSE from Monday onwards.

The launch of margin trading and securities lending businesses is an important step to improve the BSE's market trading system, boost liquidity, as well as the pricing function of the secondary market, said the bourse.

As of February 10, a total of 169 companies were listed on the Beijing bourse, with a combined market value of over 240 billion yuan ($35.35 billion).

(With input from Xinhua)