You also lose the last 3 months of interest if you redeem them within the first 5 years of issue, but the series I savings bond would still be ahead of the average 5-year CD after just 12 months even with the penalty.

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Japan wants to be the first nation in the G-7 to issue a sovereign sukuk bond--that is, if Britain doesn't get there first.

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One of the union's first targets will be China's planned sovereign bond issue in November.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy