皇冠体育app

   

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皇冠体育app to issue US$1.9b savings bonds
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-26 10:57

皇冠体育app's Ministry of Finance said on Monday it would issue the country's first ever savings bonds, worth up to 15 billion yuan (US$1.9 billion), offering Chinese citizens a new investment option.

The tax-free three-year bonds, to be sold from July 1 to 15, would bear an annual coupon of 3.14 percent, the ministry said in a statement published on its Web site (www.mof.gov.cn).

The coupon compares with 3.24 percent for three-year fixed yuan deposits, but interest from the savings bonds is not subject to the 20 percent income tax for bank savings.

The non-tradable bonds would be sold through a pilot computer system linking big commercial banks to allow individuals to purchase, manage and redeem the forthcoming savings bonds electronically, the ministry said.

The banks involved were Bank of 皇冠体育app Ltd. , 皇冠体育app Construction Bank Corp. , Industrial and Commercial Bank of 皇冠体育app [ICBC.UL], Agricultural Bank of 皇冠体育app [ABC.UL], Bank of Communications Co. Ltd. , 皇冠体育app Merchants Bank Co. Ltd. and Bank of Beijing, it said.

Chinese citizens hold $1.8 trillion yuan in bank deposits, due in part to an underdeveloped social welfare system that pushes many to save for medical care and old age.

But they are largely forbidden from investing outside 皇冠体育app, and their domestic options are limited to savings accounts and stock, bond and real estate purchases.


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