The national pension fund has bought heavily into mainland-listed developers in an attempt to boost confidence in the real estate sector as Beijing strives to buoy the economy.

The National Social Security Fund bought 11.9 million shares of Shanghai Shimao, a unit of Hong Kong-listed Shimao Property Holdings, and 4.17 million shares of Beijing North Star in the fourth quarter of last year, according to data provider Wind Information, citing the listed companies' earnings reports.

The pension fund's purchases of developers' shares showed Beijing's commitment to bolster the real estate sector that had been hit by sluggish transactions, analysts said.

South China Morning Post