Asia Pacific

CLSA said in a research report released on Friday that it expects the renminbi to weaken by 25% in the next 20 months, predicting more pain for the region before the currency starts rebounding in 2018.

In this round-up, trade settlement picked up in March, Asian exchanges saw declining USDCNY futures volumes, Nigeria will include the RMB in its FX reserves, a survey found the RMB is likely to replace the Hong Kong dollar as most popular currency in HK, and a new cross-border scheme was established between Singapore and China. Plus, a recap of GlobalRMB's top stories this week.

Despite a growing pipeline, Panda bond issuance has been stymied by foreign exchange volatility and regulatory issues around auditing and remittance of proceeds. Market participants are working closely with China on the problems and expect regulators to address the accounting requirements in the coming months.

Maybank is contemplating issuing a tier two note in dollars with the Malaysian lender set to go on the road to gauge investor interest next week.

Issuers stormed out of the blocks with a set of deals across the curve this week, with factors including an increase in swap spreads on the short end, a positive feeling towards the US market since Janet Yellen’s statements in March and the start of the Japanese fiscal year all credited.

Guarantor: Government of Japan

Hungary landed a double milestone on Thursday as its first international bond in four years became the first dim sum bond since November 2015. And while the pricing of the deal has drawn criticism, it proved that RMB is a viable option for CEE sovereigns looking to diversify into Asian currencies.

Nomura plans to close most of its equity operations in Europe, shutting down origination, research, sales and equity derivatives. But it will maintain a sales force focussed on bringing Asian products to European clients.

Falling expectations for Japanese inflation and the dovish turn at the US Federal Reserve sent the yen higher last week. This left USD/JPY at the lowest level since October 2014 going into this week, with only a slight retracement on Thursday bringing solace to Japanese exporters.

The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) used its 31st annual general meeting in Tokyo this week to publish the first in a series of documents to help market participants comply with margin requirements for non-cleared derivatives. It also joined other industry bodies in a clarion call for global regulators to drop dual-sided derivatives trade reporting in favour of an entity-based approach.

The World Bank increased a January 2021 New Zealand dollar note on Thursday with a tap that is largest issue in the Kauri market so far this year, according to a banker on the deal.

Foreign central banks will be allowed to repatriate their RMB holdings without restrictions if they have invested in China’s interbank bond market (CIBM) or traded in the onshore foreign exchange market, said the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) in two announcements released on April 14.