Domestic securities brokerages can now participate in margin trading and short selling after the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced to turn a pilot program into a regular business operation on Friday.

The regulator removed the threshold of 5 billion yuan ($743.49 million) in net capital for brokerages to participate in the market.

Financial institutions such as banks, mutual funds, and insurers are also permitted to lend capital or securities to the brokerages to do business, according to the regulator.