China will issue 26 billion yuan (3.8 billion U.S. dollars) of book-entry treasury bonds, the 26th batch of the kind this year, starting on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The ministry said in a statement Wednesday that the issue period would last from Dec. 18 to 22. The five-year bonds will have a fixed yield of 1.77 percent.

Interest will be calculated from Dec. 18 and be paid annually on Dec. 18. Principal will be paid on Dec. 18, 2013, along with the final-year interest.

China has so far issued more than 1 trillion yuan in book-entry treasury bonds this year.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2008)