(Yicai Global) Jan. 3 -- Some 64 securities traders, including China Galaxy Securities, have been approved to start margin trading and short selling on the Beijing Stock Exchange, a bourse founded less than one-and-a-half years ago, based on the latest statistics.

The BSE is ready for leveraged and short bets, the exchange said less than two months after revealing the related rules. Such transactions will start on Jan. 9 at the soonest, some securities traders predicted.

The third mainland stock exchange, aimed at easing small and medium-sized enterprises' financing pressures, has been making quick moves. On Dec. 17, it carried out technical tests and late last month, it opened margin trading and short selling units.

Brokerages are preparing to make use of the new functions that could add liquidity to the fresh market. China Galaxy Securities had contacted 350,000 clients as of Dec. 29 and 14,000 of them have said they intend to trade on the BSE, the Beijing-based firm said.

Citic Securities is ready for trading on the BSE, the brokerage said. The company has notified more than 71,670 clients about the new investing channel and over 400 of them have sought to seize the opportunity.

Huatai Securities had contacted around 22,000 clients about the added functions as of Dec. 23. After passing tests on Jan. 7, the brokerage will be ready to start trading on Jan. 9, it said.

Editors: Shi Yi, Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi