CHINA will float 20 billion yuan (US$2.9 billion) worth of "certificated treasury bonds" from Tuesday, the third such issue this year.

The T-bonds include 14 billion yuan worth of three-year bonds that carry a fixed annual interest rate of 5.74 percent, and six billion yuan worth of five-year bonds with a 6.34-percent annual interest rate, said the Ministry of Finance in a notice yesterday. Purchasers must register their names to buy such certificated T-bonds, which could serve as security for loans, but could not be transferred, said the ministry.