Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) on Monday lowered its trading threshold from one kilogram to 100 grams, opening the market up to small private investors.

Industry experts believe the move will help diversify gold investment channels in China and to standardize the market for gold transactions.

The SGE proposed in July last year the spot trading of gold by private investors in cooperation with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). However, the one-kg threshold, with a market value of 160,000 yuan (20,000 US dollars), has turned off many private investors.

The volume of spot transactions by private investors in the first ten months, for instance, accounted for just 0.57 percent of the total trade.

Provisional Measures Regarding Administration of Spot Trading of Gold by Private Investors published by SGE stipulate a private investor can participate in spot trading and even claim gold through all SGE financial members or other agents with approval from the People's Bank of China.

Cheng Fumin, president of the China Gold Association, said sales of gold had risen since the beginning of the year as a result of rising prices and the growing acceptance of gold as an investment.

Sales of gold bullion and gold bars account for one tenth of the gold consumption gross in the country.

"I think more investors will be attracted to spot trading and there will be more transactions as the SGE opens its doors wider,"said Cheng.

China's gold market is restricted to spot trading for the time being, but the SGE has been developing derivatives such as futures, options and investment funds.

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