BEIJING - Stricter rules on stock trading suspensions have taken effect, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said Friday.

In 2016, the daily average number of trading suspensions by mainland-listed companies dropped about 20 percent year on year, CSRC spokesperson Chang Depeng told a press conference.

Suspensions also became shorter, with over 90 percent of the trading suspensions for major asset restructuring deals lasting for no more than three months, Chang said.

Frequent trading suspensions worsened market liquidity and hurt investors' interests during the stock market turmoil in the summer of 2015.

Since then, authorities have tightened regulations to prevent listed companies from abusing the right.

Chang said that the CSRC will continue to improve trading suspension management to maintain market order and protect investors' rights.