Germany issued a 10-year bond at a negative interest for the first time on Wednesday, selling more than 4.0 billion euros ($4.5 billion) with a yield of minus 0.05 percent, the German central bank or Bundesbank said. 

The 10-year German government bond or "Bund" acts as a benchmark on the debt markets and regarded as one of the safest investments.

It is the first time that investors have accepted negative returns in the first issue of a bond, meaning they will pay for the privilege of owning rock-solid German bonds amid fears about the consequences of the British vote to quit the European union and economic worries.