SHANGHAI -- China’s stock regulator said Thursday it will curb major shareholders from selling more than 1% of total shares outstanding within three months, after markets closed early when the circuit-breaker mechanism was triggered for a second day this week.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission has ruled that large shareholders -- those holding 5% or more of shares in listed companies -- won’t be allowed to sell more than 1% of total shares outstanding within the next three months, according to a statement on the regulator’s website.