Jan. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland's second-biggest bank, plans to take a 33.3 percent stake in a China securities venture, gaining access to a market that saw $65 billion of stock sales last year.

The Zurich-based bank and its Chinese partner, Founder Securities, a unit of Beijing-based Founder Group, plan to apply for regulatory approval for the venture to arrange yuan- denominated share sales in the near future, according to a Credit Suisse statement today.

The venture also plans to underwrite and act as broker for foreign-currency shares traded in China, government and corporate bonds, the statement said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bei Hu in Hong Kong at bhu5@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 9, 2008 21:35 EST