More overseas investors were allowed to enter China's stock markets last year amid the country's efforts to open up its financial sector, latest data has showed.
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China granted qualified foreign institutional investors (QFIIs) licenses to 72 new foreign investors in 2012, a record since the start of the scheme in 2002, according to figures released Tuesday by the China Securities Regulatory Commission.
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Foreign institutions are allowed to buy Chinese shares mainly through two programs -- QFII and RMB QFII, as foreign individuals are barred.
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China could increase 10-fold the quota for foreign investors putting money into its stock markets, as the two programs together account for "just 1.5 or 1.6 percent" of its A-share market, CSRC Chairman Guo Shuqing Monday told an economic forum in Hong Kong.
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The country has been taking steps to attract more long-term overseas funds. In April, the CSRC raised the investment ceiling for QFIIs to $80 billion from $30 billion.
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In July, it eased restrictions on foreign investors by allowing qualified institutional investors to hold up to 30 percent of shares in any domestically listed company, up from 20 percent.
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Total QFII quotas reached $37.44 billion between 2002 and 2012, according to the data.