US$4.25 billion from sale of bonds

The Ministry of Finance sold US$4.25 billion in its first sale of special bonds Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported. The amount was larger the expected US$4 billion, as the ministry increased the size of the tranche amid strong demand from investors. The ministry plans to sell US$200 billion in bonds to finance the purchase of foreign exchange from the central bank for its pending state investment company. The ministry said it would sell special bonds totaling US$26 billion to the public this month and in the fourth quarter of this year. The next sale, of US$4 billion, is scheduled for Friday.