BEIJING - The Ministry of Finance said Friday that it will sell 15 billion yuan ($2.39 billion) in 273-day book-entry discounted treasury bonds next week.

The short-term bonds, with an annual interest rate of 2.87 percent, will be issued on a discounted basis at a price of 97.913 yuan for each bill, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

The sales period for the bonds will last from April 16 to 18, and the bonds will become tradable on the securities markets on May 20, according to the statement.

The issuance of the bonds marks the first time for the ministry to issue such bonds this year.