(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-10-24 15:31

SHANGHAI - China warned investors and rule breakers that it will do what it takes to bring its booming capital markets in line with standard practices, China Securities Journal reported Wednesday.

"We should carry on education on investors and the focus of our recent work is disclosing market risks, " the journal reported, citing Shang Fulin, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

"We will continue to intensify supervision and severely punish those who violate the rules to ensure effective regulation and keep good order in the market," Shang said at a meeting from the just concluded 17th Party Congress.

Authorities have repeatedly warned of the dangers in investing in China's booming stock markets, where prices have surged 120 percent so far this year after jumping about 130 percent in 2006.

Official statements about market risk in China are usually taken to mean that the authorities are concerned about rampant speculation and unsustainable market growth, and are often followed by measures seeking to curb such growth.

Shang said the market's infrastructure was not robust enough, characterizing the nation's capital markets as "emerging and transitional".

He said it will also do more to crack down on irregular market practices.