Asia Pacific

Last month we noted that market-based measures of implied volatility had fallen considerably as Chinese indexes stabilised, developed market equities moved toward recent highs and commodity selloffs were contained. Two weeks later, we find that volatility risk premiums have fallen further in most cases, as traders price in less risk during a seasonally quiet period.

CME Group has agreed to enter into a joint venture with China Foreign Exchange Trade System and National Interbank Funding Center (CFETS), in a move that positions it to open up CNY denominated markets to foreign investors.

Asian Development Bank has placed its first private medium term note in renminbi, joining a swell of offshore renminbi MTNs in the past month.

Despite a flying start to bookbuilding, the HK$11bn ($1.4bn) IPO of China Railway Signal & Communication Corp (CRSC) in Hong Kong eventually succumbed to the turmoil in China’s stock market, forcing it to price at the bottom of the range on August 1.

Asia's high yield bond market finally saw some overdue activity over the past week, with four deals pricing. But the sector is by no means invincible — eHi Car Services had to pull a deal amid tepid demand. But despite that setback, bankers are confident of printing more deals through the summer, writes Narae Kim.

The recent move by two Asian oil companies to change covenants on existing borrowings has prompted a debate on whether more of their industry peers will follow suit. Some bankers believe the reality of a lower oil price environment justifies the revisions, while others are convinced the changes reflect the needs specific to these companies, rather than their sector, writes Shruti Chaturvedi.

Yuexiu gets two for Shanghai tower acquisition loan — Healthy demand for Dongfeng Peugeot loan — ONGC Videsh sounds lenders for refi

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is said to have chosen three lenders to arrange its financing of up to $300m.

ICICI Bank had a fantastic outcome to its first US dollar issuance of the year, raising $500m this week with no new issue concession and even getting the seal of approval from bankers away from the deal.

Weapons manufacturer LIG Nex1 has released indicative pricing for its upcoming IPO next month. Even if pricing comes at the bottom, the transaction will still take the title of the largest Korean IPO of the year.

The departure of a key southeast Asia banker from a global firm has thrust the region back into the spotlight, with banks battening down the hatches in expectation of a prolonged slump. Recruiters foresee another purge in jobs before the year is out, writes John Loh.

Standard Chartered has hired a former banker from Royal Bank of Scotland as its new head of Greater China debt capital markets.