UK’s HSBC to launch first yuan bonds

London-based banking major HSBC unveiled plans on Wednesday to launch the first international yuan-denominated bonds outside China. The three-year bonds denominated in the yuan, or Renminbi, aim to internationalize China’s currency and develop London as an international renminbi center, the bank said in a statement. “The bond … will be issued from and distributed within Europe and Asia. It is being launched in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange with the aim of tapping the growing pool of renminbi liquidity across Europe,” the bank said. The development of trading in yuan-denominated bonds outside mainland China is likely to help the Chinese currency evolve into a major global trading, financing and investment currency, and eventually a global reserve currency. “HSBC expects the international renminbi bond market to reach 1 trillion yuans within three years as the demand for renminbi-denominated assets continues to grow,” the bank said.