The SFC has issued restriction notices to 14 brokers and 9 brokers respectively, for suspected market manipulation in the shares of Smartac Group China (395) between October 2018 and March 2019, and suspected market manipulation in the shares of China Ding Yi Feng (612) between 2018 and early 2019. The restriction notices prohibit the involved from dealing with or processing any client accounts and assets related to the two companies.

The 14 brokers related to suspected market manipulation of Smartac Group China were Changjiang Securities Brokerage (HK), Central China International Securities, China Galaxy International Securities (Hong Kong), Fulbright Securities, GF Securities (Hong Kong), Guosen Securities (HK), Guotai Junan Securities (Hong Kong), Guoyuan Securities Brokerage (Hong Kong), HGNH International Securities, Interactive Brokers Hong Kong, KGI Asia, Yue Xiu Securities, Yunfeng Securities and Zhongtai International Securities.

The 9 brokers related to suspected market manipulation of China Ding Yi Feng were Central China International Securities, CMB International Securities, HGNH International Securities, Kaisa Securities, Sun Hung Kai Investment Services, Tian Yuan Finance, Victory Securities Company, Yue Xiu Securities Company and Zhongtai International Securities.

Excluding the overlapping ones, the SFC has issued restriction notices to 19 brokerage firms, 4 of which involved in both cases. According to the SFC, the firms are not the subject of the investigations, and have cooperated with the SFC's ongoing investigation. The restriction notices do not affect their normal operations or their other clients.