Lock-up shares bonanza in March

Lock-up shares worth some 380 billion yuan (60.2 billion US dollars), the highest monthly value in 19 months, will become eligible for trade on China's stock market in March.

An increase in stock supply is expected to add pressure to the capital market, according to Southwest Securities.

Under China's market rules, major shareholders of non-tradable stocks are subject to one or two years of lock-up before they are permitted to trade the shares.

On the ChiNext Board, 27 companies will see lock-up shares worth 47.2 billion yuan become tradable next month. This is the highest value in a single month since the board, which tracks hi-tech firms and growth companies, was launched in October 2009.

On the Shenzhen SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) Board, 32 companies will see non-tradable shares worth 67.8 billion yuan released to the market next month. That sum is the highest since June 2013.