Asean

Hong Kong’s securities watchdog has fined Goldman Sachs $350m for regulatory failures in its work on bonds issued by the scandal-hit Malaysian state investment fund 1MDB, part of a multi-billion-dollar settlement with global regulators.

United Overseas Bank achieved the tightest spread for a five year floating rate bank issue in Australian dollars in over 10 years this week, issuing A$750m ($532.0m) to prove that there is still demand at decade-low levels.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has substantially increased its covered bond issuance limit which had stood at 4% of assets on an issuer’s balance sheet. This, along with very strong market conditions, should help to induce the country’s borrowers, which have not printed in euros for more than two years, to make an appearance before the year is out.

Singapore-listed Mapletree Logistics Trust has raised S$650m ($479.8m) in fresh equity after boosting the size of its placement.

Thai hospitality firm Asset World Corp and Hong Kong’s China Everbright Environment Group both tapped the green loan market this week.

Indonesian state-owned electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara has cancelled a $300m loan, after receiving a capital injection from the government.

More Singaporean companies are making the transition to a new local currency benchmark rate in preparation for the end of Libor, with Sembcorp Industries becoming the latest firm to raise a loan linked to Sora.

Singapore-listed Mapletree Logistics Trust is funding an acquisition spree of logistics assets in Asia by tapping the equity market for up to S$650m ($479m).

Indonesia’s Pan Brothers has requested Moody’s to withdraw its corporate issuer rating after a spate of downgrades this year, as the textile company struggles to put together a loan to meet some of its looming maturities.

VPBank Finance Co, the consumer finance arm of Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank, has made a rapid return for a $150m loan.

Nanofilm Technologies International is giving the Singapore Exchange some much-needed IPO activity, launching the first main board listing on the bourse since the beginning of the year.

Indonesia coal producer Indika Energy was back in the debt market on Thursday with a $450m bond.