The Shenzhen Stock Exchange yesterday urged stock houses to offer fair and clear market advice to maintain a stable market, even as the country faces a tough Olympic year.

"Securities companies play an important role in the technology and information systems, and their safety and stability relate to investors' interests and the development of the capital market," an official of the bourse said.

The stock market has fluctuated drastically recently and hurt market sentiment, while the complicated domestic and overseas environment has added new risks. China's benchmark CSI300 Index has tumbled about 50 percent in the first half of this year.

The stock houses should make efforts to maintain stability of the market, the bourse said. Ways companies could keep the market stable included mapping out effective emergency plans, increasing investment in technology development, boosting investment consultancy services, offering fair market orientation and not publishing irresponsible research reports, it said.

(Shanghai Daily July 18, 2008)