SHANGHAI, Jan 2 (Reuters) - China's central bank said on

Thursday that it conducted the second round of operations under

a newly-created funding scheme aimed at supporting the stock

market for an amount of 55 billion yuan ($7.5 billion).

The operation provides easier access for eligible securities

firms, fund companies and insurers to funding to buy stocks.

Twenty institutions participated in the auction and the fee

rate is 10 basis points, the central bank said.

($1 = 7.2994 Chinese yuan renminbi)