Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today open UK corporate bonds to small investors in a bid to kickstart a "new golden age" of retail investment.
The kitemark system, set up to reassure novice investors, comes after direct investment in bonds by individuals broke down due to EU stipulations which prevented single investments of less than £100,000.
That rule, The Times reports, has now been axed, meaning bond transactions can begin from just £1.
Officially launching the initiative at a London Stock Exchange event today, Reeves will claim in represents a "new golden age" for investment.
The new rule is part of broader efforts to move more UK savings into productive investment.
In the US, Federal Reserve data shows retail investors own more than $6trillion of debt securities.
FTSE100
The UK's flagship share index, the FTSE 100, was down 6 points at 10,219 shortly after opening this morning.
Brent crude oil futures were at $63.71 a barrel.
Companies reporting
- BHP Group - Q2 Operations Update
- Marshalls - Full Year Trading Statement