(Yicai Global) Oct. 22 -- New Fortune Best Analyst selection, China's largest competition for research analysts, has kicked off again with revised rules after a year of absence due to graft. 

New Fortune has started accepting candidate registrations for this year's race that will be expanded by five categories: finance, consumption, technology, manufacturing, as well as energy and materials, the Chinese magazine said in a statement on its WeChat account yesterday. The publisher will hire auditors to review the selection process that will include more quantitative criteria.

Last year, the competition was canceled after a video that showed brokerage staff partying with a client went viral. Since the first ranking in 2003, high New Fortune ratings have been linked to better analyst salaries.

On Oct. 8, the Securities Association of China issued new rules for the race. The self-regulatory organization went on to sign a pact with eight hosts, including New Fortune, other securities newspapers, and Sina, about securing fair conditions for the competition.

New Fortune clarified its penalties. Candidates or voters that violate the rules will be banned for up to three years and those that are found to be guilty of graft will be permanently disqualified. 

Editor: Emmi Laine