BNP Paribas has set up a hedge fund sales desk in Hong Kong to cover the growing demand for Asian products. "We're covering a full range of products: long/short equity, market access, options and baskets," said Marta Obando, director at BNP Paribas in Hong Kong. Obando joined last month from a similar role at Merrill Lynch, where she was a v.p. based in Hong Kong. She is building up the desk, which will work alongside both the cash sales/trading team and equity derivatives group. Obando said the French shop will recruit additional staff for the effort in the next few months.
Mark Tsang, spokesman at Merrill, did not respond to messages by press time.
