GC
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China’s sovereign bond: a missed SRI opportunity
China wowed investors last week with a $6bn 144A bond amid a trade war with the US, but it missed a chance to solidify its credentials in the socially responsible bond market.
20 Oct 2020 -
Rubio is wrong to want to block Ant IPO
US senator Marco Rubio wants his government to find a way to delay the listing of Ant Group, even though it is happening outside of the US. The move would undoubtedly be bad news for US banks but it also appears to offer little upside to politicians.
13 Oct 2020 -
Asian bond issuers: time is running out
Asian borrowers looking to tap the international dollar bond market this year have only a small window of opportunity to raise funds. They should act quickly.
06 Oct 2020 -
Korea’s equity boom: it’s now or never
South Korea is in the middle of an equity bubble. Investors are piling in at a rate not seen in the past decade, pushing stock valuations in secondary and primary markets far above realistic levels. Companies should make the most of this opportunity – it won’t last.
29 Sep 2020 -
Taiwanese banks should hold their ground on loan pricing
Formosa Plastics Corp is preparing to set a new pricing benchmark with its planned $2bn loan, which bankers reckon could set a record low for a borrower from Taiwan. If the company succeeds, this could set a dangerous precedent for the long-term health of Asia’s loan syndication market.
22 Sep 2020 -
BOC lays blue foundation; now others should follow
Bank of China has opened a new area of sustainable investing with Asia’s first blue bond. The excitement over the potential for sustainable ocean-related financing in the region is justified — but the market should temper its expectations.
15 Sep 2020 -
Asia’s answer to green bond push lies in China property
Green dollar bonds from Chinese high yield real estate developers are rare, but property companies have the potential to push the green market in the region to the next level — and see some pricing benefits in the process.
08 Sep 2020 -
Singapore: a case study for Libor transition
Singapore has been a front-runner when it comes to moving away from Libor to a new benchmark, with its regulators, borrowers and banks playing an active role in preparing the market. The rest of Asia’s loan market should pay attention.
01 Sep 2020 -
China’s take-privates: no panacea for Asia’s loan market
Leveraged finance bankers in Asia are counting on the possible delisting of a host of Chinese companies from the US to give a fillip to the region’s dollar loan market this year. But bankers should temper their expectations.
25 Aug 2020 -
ESG investors: be careful with supply chains
Environmental, social and governance investors are taking an interest in companies' supply chains at last. It is important they do this in a sophisticated way and think deeply about the potential repercussions. Getting supply chains wrong could have devastating consequences.
18 Aug 2020
