Asia Pacific

Bank of Qingdao is poised to keep China’s green debt momentum rolling, winning approval to issue a bond of up to Rmb8bn ($1.23bn) into the onshore debt market.

The Asian DCM market did not have an easy 2015 with numerous macro and political headwinds causing a fall in new issuance. While jittery conditions are here to stay, Clifford Lee, head of fixed income for DBS, told GlobalCapital Asia that his business is well positioned to combat the volatility.

China has appointed a new chairman to its stock market regulator, who bankers hope will take a hands-off approach to governing the country’s markets.

State Bank of India is back in the loan market for a fresh $500m fundraising that is expected to launch into syndication in the next couple of weeks.

Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings (CKI) is on track for a comeback to the dollar hybrid bond market, while India’s National Thermal Power Corp kicked off bookbuilding for a 10 year Reg S offering on Monday.

Singapore’s DBS has released a solid set of financial results for 2015 with both total income and net profits hitting record levels. But while most of its fee-related businesses recorded strong growth, the lender’s investment banking unit saw its income drop by 25%.

With result season now in full swing after the Lunar New Year holidays, now is perhaps an opportune time to reflect on the fact that Hong Kong remains one of the few major markets around the world (and in Asia in particular) not to require companies listed on its Main Board to publish quarterly accounts. With talk of a third board to attract smaller companies with lower listing requirements, and recurring issues with disclosure (or lack thereof) by smaller listed businesses, a change in the rules is probably long overdue, writes Philippe Espinasse.

HSBC booked the lion’s share of its 2015 earnings from Asia, with the region contributing to more than 80% of the group’s profits before tax as the bank continues to look eastward for growth. But there are challenges ahead, with the firm under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its hiring practices.

China has become the biggest and arguably the most important capital market in Asia. The size and scope of transactions combined with the fast pace of reform is influencing capital markets well outside the country’s borders. In our first China Deals and Investment Bank of the Year Awards, we select the standout transactions and institutions. 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.

Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) has received commitments worth $150m for its loan of up to $200m ahead of the deadline of February 26.

Evergrande Real Estate Group said on Monday that it has received the requisite consent from bondholders to relax terms on two of its outstanding dollar bonds.

Yangtze River Development is looking to raise as much as $57.5m for a project in Wuhan, China, by listing on the New York Stock Exchange, according to a filing with the US regulator.