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One of Singapore's strongest and most influential issuers has completed a successful pair of bond issues off the back of a US$2 billion debt issuance programme established in July. The US$500 million global bond and S$600 million local bond issues from the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) in July both present useful benchmarks. PSA, wholly owned by Temasek Holdings, the investment arm of the government of Singapore, is the owner and operator of one of the world's largest and busiest container ports. It contributes 2.9% of Singapore's GDP and holds an Aa1/AAA rating; its business actually grew during the Asian crisis.

It boasts a total of four small listed companies, is only open every other weekday, and the trading rules changed twice in its opening week. But let's not mock Vietnam's new stock exchange: it's a landmark that it exists at all. You can argue about the date, but it is fair to say it has taken at least six years for the Securities Trading Centre – located in Ho Chi Minh City – to open its doors to investors.

Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL), India's monopoly player in the international telephony market, celebrated the country's Independence Day in New York when its shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange on August 15. This is the first time that an Indian state-run company has listed its shares on a US market. VSNL did so by converting 95% of its global depositary receipts into American depositary receipts. GDR holders account for 30% of VSNL shares while the government holds 52%. The rest is widely held in the domestic market. Bank of New York is the depositary bank.

Ventures trading Asian bonds online believe that their systems, BondsInAsia and Asiabondportal, will bring liquidity and transparency to the region – and therefore increase levels of issuance. Institutional investors will need some convincing. By Fiona Haddock

After porkbellies, bandwidth

After porkbellies, bandwidth

Projections for the number of online brokers in Asia – particularly Hong Kong – are mind-boggling. Can there possibly be a future for so many?

It is an unthinkable task. But a full recovery for Indonesia will not be complete without the restructuring of a staggering US$100 billion of private sector debt. It will take years and may never be completed, but there have been steps forward. By Maggie Ford

Macroeconomic outlook

Macroeconomic outlook

It is an unthinkable task. But a full recovery for Indonesia will not be complete without the restructuring of a staggering US$100 billion of private sector debt. It will take years and may never be completed, but there have been steps forward. By Maggie Ford

Bambang Sudibyo was Indonesia's finance minister for the first 10 months of the Wahid government until the president replaced him with Prijadi Praptosuhardjo – perhaps the most controversial decision of the whole reshuffle. Asiamoney met him just two days before Wahid's announcement. By Chris Wright and Maggie Ford.