KUALA LUMPUR: Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd has introduced access for retail investors to buy and sell foreign currency bond investments in the secondary market.

In a statement, Standard Chartered Malaysia's country head of consumer banking Tiew Siew Chuen said that there is a general return to more active investing among sophisticated investors and they are seeking more alternative investment tools to build their wealth.

The introduction features six issuers: Standard Chartered plc, government of Qatar, Hutchinson Whampoa International Limited, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, RaboBank and Tesco plc. The current stable of bonds offers yield-to-maturity that range from 3.67% to 5.8% and ratings by S&P range from A- to AAA. 
Direct investment into bonds is available from a minimum of US$50,000 (RM177,500) or its equivalent.