Asia Pacific

India's Vedanta Resources is talking to banks about a $300m borrowing for its mining operations in South Africa, setting the wheels in motion for its third international loan of the year.

China’s FX reserves grow again in July, Harvest Fund Management lists the first ETF tracking FTSE Russell’s China index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and Standard Chartered’s Renminbi Globalisation Index (RGI) falls in June.

China’s new Financial Stability and Development Commission (FSDC), set up in July and integrated into the country’s central bank, reflects the authorities’ desire to change the regulatory set-up. But it is unlikely to lead to an outright merger of regulators.

UBS has brought one of its most seasoned executives in Asia out of retirement to take up a senior position in the investment banking unit.

State-owned insurer New India Assurance Co (NIA) has submitted a draft prospectus for its IPO, which could be worth up to Rp75bn ($1.2bn), according to a banker working on the deal.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) on Thursday announced a new cooperation agreement with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), that will secure it information on the ongoing compliance of Indian central counterparties (CCPs) under EU regulation.

Korea Development Bank (KDB) has made its debut in the Swedish krona market, becoming the second Korean public sector entity to do so this year.

Indian borrowers are increasingly raising offshore loans with tenors of five to seven years, in a bid to smooth out their maturity profiles and avoid a massive debt overhang. The shift comes at the right time, as international lenders slowly warm up to longer-dated deals, writes Shruti Chaturvedi.

Amid a slow year for equity-linked issuance in Asia, bankers are pinning their hopes on exchangeable bonds to make up for the shortfall. A template has emerged on the back of Postal Savings Bank of China’s $1bn EB, as cornerstone investors in Hong Kong IPOs look to monetise their stakes at a premium. John Loh reports.

Export-Import Bank of India priced a rare dollar Formosa bond from the country this week, bagging $400m. Cash-swamped dollar investors in Taiwan are desperate for diversification amid falling loan volumes, so the stage is set for borrowers to push for tighter pricing. Addison Gong reports.

I’m often surprised at the lengths to which banks will go these days to hire newbies.

Equity-linked banker exits Goldman — BAML hires in DCM syndicate — ANZ loses debt director — SMBC adds to loans team — Ex-UBS banker heads to Citic CLSA