Asia Pacific

Impact investing — a specialist field, outside mainstream financial markets, in which investors seek environmental and social outcomes — is burgeoning, leading promoters to raise their targets for the market’s growth. But at the same time, more conventional investors are also laying claim to the term “impact”.

It is high time that the famously conservative Japanese market started embracing new practices. There are signs that modernisation is afoot.

​New regulations have uncovered heaps of data that markets are struggling to handle. But as participants discover issues exist they did not realise existed, the data revolution will result in safer and more efficient markets for all.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce paid up to tap a euro-denominated senior bond on Wednesday, getting ahead of regulations next month that will make all senior debt subject to bail in. Bank of Nova Scotia also took out over $1bn equivalent of funding in Australian dollars this week.

More borrowers could look to the Euroyen format as a new funding tool in Japan, after BNP Paribas proved very popular with its offering of non-preferred senior notes this week.

The queue of Chinese companies seeking Hong Kong IPOs continues to grow, with one firm looking for the regulatory greenlight, and another issuer reviving its listing plans this week.

Goldman hires from IMF — UBS adds to debt origination — Bank Alfalah, CLSA ink pact for Pakistan — Credit Suisse taps Japan CEO — PNB scoops up former HSBC banker

Interest among Chinese companies to list in the US continues to remain strong, with personal finance company X Financial and internet firm Viomi setting the stage for their IPOs.

Three Chinese local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) priced dollar bonds this week, despite a recent default in the onshore debt market.

A pair of Chinese borrowers broke the lull in new loan syndications from north Asia this week, seeking a combined $450m from their latest fundraisings.

Almost six years after China’s asset-backed securities market was rebooted, regulators are still struggling to put together legislation for securitization, casting a shadow over the market’s development, writes Noah Sin.

It was not many weeks ago that your humble columnist hinted that his days of drinking were done. When will this promise finally be kept?