Asia Pacific

The Korea Exchange (KRX) has put together a global marketing department to work on attracting international investors and companies to the country's main board.

It was a challenging year for Australian capital markets in 2015 as the fall in commodity prices and volatile conditions made executing deals that much tougher. So it is testament to the depth and breadth of banks in Australia that so many were able to produce standout performances. Our thanks to all those firms that took the time to pitch. Full write-ups of each award will be published in the next Asiamoney supplement in late March.

The Indian government is selling down a 5% stake in state-owned NTPC that could raise at least Rp50.3bn ($739.3m), giving equity capital markets in Asia a much needed shot in the arm.

Khazanah Nasional started taking orders for its first Islamic bond in dollars on Tuesday, while Bank of China’s Hong Kong branch launched bookbuilding for a triple tranche senior dollar deal.

DagangHalal, the halal verification business, expressed on Monday its intention to float on London’s junior stock market.

CME Group has added to the energy products it offers by introducing a Japanese liquefied natural gas futures contract.

National Australia Bank found itself taking on the might of London mayor Boris Johnson alone on Monday morning, launching a short sterling senior deal as other borrowers shied away from a nervous FIG market.

Svenska Handelsbanken has chosen three banks to work on its first Kangaroo bond since 2014.

Varun Beverages, the flagship of India’s RJ Group, has mandated two local banks for its IPO and is looking to open books by the end of this year, according to a source close to the trade.

South Korean game developer Netmarble Games has started selecting firms to lead its potential W2tr ($1.6bn) IPO.

Tata Steel has received a new commitment at the senior level for its $1.5bn refinancing, with banks yet to join in general syndication.

The RMB qualified foreign institutional investor (RQFII) programme has been a runaway success, expanding to sixteen jurisdictions and over 150 institutions in just five years since launch, quickly catching up to the popularity of sibling programme QFII. Yet, to retain its appeal amid market volatility and the evolution of competing investment channels, it may be time for RQFII to revamp.