Asia Pacific

The economies of Italy and China do not appear to have much in common. Italy’s government would welcome a GDP growth rate of 1%, while China expands at less than 7% and investors take flight. One is a sclerotic, decaying Western country, the other is a dynamic Asian tiger. Such is the conventional wisdom.

Iran's return to the world market is exacerbating pressure on oil prices and pushing commodity traders and producers to prepare for more disruption

Barclays beat a hasty retreat this week from the bulk of its investment banking operations in Asia, shuttering offices in multiple countries and slashing hundreds of jobs amid a wider global cull in costs and personnel. It did not pull any punches, with the cuts stretching across the equities, loans and bonds products. John Loh reports.

China’s Haier Group is expected to use bank loans to fund up to $3.3bn of its forthcoming $5.4bn acquisition of US-based GE Appliances. Bankers have predicted an onshore China takeout, but the fundraising structure has not yet been disclosed, reports Shruti Chaturvedi.

The Chinese Panda bond market has gone from strength to strength since its revival last September with the Province of British Columbia (BC) becoming the latest to issue, raising Rmb3bn ($456m) on Thursday. While plenty more sovereign and financial deals are being lined up, the future does not look bright for red chip companies. Carrie Hong and Rev Hui report.

Chinese property developers could face rating downgrades if the renminbi continues to fall, according to Standard & Poor’s.

Hungary may add more banks to the mandate for its potential dim sum bonds, said Andras Rez, deputy chief executive officer at the government debt management agency (AKK) in Hungary.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange plans to cement its position as the primary gateway between China and the rest of the world, after setting out a three-year strategic plan for 2016-2018.

A $300m three year loan for Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has gone into general syndication via three mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has given Russian companies the nod to list depositary receipts on its main board.

Four banks have rolled out a S$1.75bn ($1.22bn) five year financing for a subsidiary of Singapore’s Universal Terminal.

KEB Hana Bank battled choppy markets with its first international outing after its merger. As volatility heightened during bookbuilding, the lender opted to scale back the size of the deal in exchange for tighter pricing.