SHANGHAI, Jan 5 - The World Bank issued its first yuan-denominated bond, raising $76 million and trying to promote the use of the Chinese currency in international markets at a time when China's stake in the institution is about to increase.

The World Bank said in a statement on Wednesday the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, its low-interest lending arm, had priced the two-year paper at 0.95 percent, representing the lowest yield so far on same-maturity dim sum bonds -- the nickname for yuan-denominated bonds issued in Hong Kong.