China's securities regulator is reportedly considering relaxing the restrictions on the trading of stock index futures. Any such move would underscore its intention to gradually restore the market function that has almost come to a halt since the market rout in 2015.

Relaxation measures will likely include reducing the minimum margin requirement from 40 percent to 20 percent of the contract value and increasing the maximum daily trading volume from 10 contracts to 20 per investor, Chinese media reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Chinese online media outlet thepaper.cn reported that the regulator is likely to announce the decision within this month. The China Securities Regulatory Commission did not respond to media inquiries on this matter.