China treasury bond futures open lower on March 5

China's treasury bond futures opened slightly lower on Thursday, with contract for settlement in March 2015 opening at 97.8 yuan (15.98 U.S. dollars), down 0.1 yuan.

The contract for settlement in June 2015 opens 0.1 yuan lower at 98.7 yuan, and September 2015 opens 0.1 yuan lower at 99.2 yuan.

The contracts are agreements to buy or sell treasury bonds at a predetermined price and set date. They allow investors to bet on or profit from the movements in the value of the bonds.

The treasury bond futures were launched at the Shanghai-based China Financial Futures Exchange and started trading on Sept. 6, 2013.