Asia Pacific

Country Garden Holdings Co saw its dollar bond prices spike on Friday following a ratings upgrade from Moody’s — a move that is set to allow the property developer expand its investor base and lower its funding costs.

Ming Yuan Cloud Holdings has sealed its Hong Kong listing at the top of the marketed range, netting HK$6.2bn ($796.6m) following a strong turnout from sovereign wealth funds and long-only investors.

In this round-up, Ant Group receives blessing for the Mainland portion of its jumbo dual listing, the September benchmark lending rate remains unchanged, and a large securities house is in the making as Guolian Securities plans to acquire a bigger rival.

Covid-19 has fundamentally changed how the world operates — and capital markets are no exception. In Japan, it has shown the potential of the bond market to serve the common good.

The Bank of Japan has used every implement in the monetary policy toolbox to try to kick-start the economy. Does it have any tricks left to fight the impact of the coronavirus? Matthew Thomas reports.

The Covid-19 pandemic has spurred a shift in Japan’s socially responsible investment (SRI) bond market, which has long supported green deals but is now turning its focus to other environmental, social and governance products.

What impact has Covid-19 had on Japan? The answer is complicated. No major economy has done so well at containing the spread of the virus — or so badly at limiting the economic fall-out. William Pesek reports.

The Bank of Japan has long been the driver of yields in the government bond market. It has increasingly become a key player in corporate bonds as well, creating opportunities for issuers and investors alike.

Japan’s banks have faced multiple crises over past decades, but the coronavirus pandemic has thrown out some fresh surprises — and could challenge their future growth, writes William Pesek.

Samurai bonds have taken a big hit this year due to Covid-19, with deal volumes slumping by more than 75%. This has not only tested the resilience of the market — but also raised serious questions about its long-term prospects.

The Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) has announced that it will syndicate a new six year deal next week – marking the first time the sovereign has sold more than three syndications in a single fiscal year.

This week in Keeping Tabs: what scientists still don't know about coronavirus as we grapple with a second wave, ESG index funds outperformed in the first half of the year, and Japan's currency challenge.