China

In this round-up, the People’s Bank of China announced a new benchmark rate for loans, a reported 1.7 million people held a rally in Hong Kong on Sunday and the issuance of Chinese onshore credit bonds climbed in July

The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) unveiled a new benchmark rate for bank loans on Saturday. The loan prime rate (LPR) will replace the current one-year lending rate, which has stood still for four years at 4.35%, as the new benchmark. The move is aimed at making the lending rates more market-based and lowering the funding cost for the real economy, analysts say.

Fujian Zhanglong Group Co skirted the market volatility last week to seal a $500m deal on Friday, using up its regulatory offshore quota.

In this round-up, China’s money and credit growth disappointed, industrial production growth plunged and Hong Kong Stock Exchange posted lower trading fees but higher listing fees for July.

Local government-owned Shandong Guohui Investment Co made a quick comeback to the dollar bond market to raise $300m on Thursday, when its Chinese peer Qingdao Jimo District Urban Development Investment Co made its offshore debut.

In this round-up, the Office of the US Trade Representative postponed imposing 10% tariffs on selected Chinese imports, protesters paralysed Hong Kong airport for two days and Shanghai said it would allow foreign employees to receive stock options on the A-share market.

A number of supranationals have delayed their plans to issue Panda bonds over a dispute about their accepting Chinese regulatory oversight, write Rebecca Feng and Burhan Khadbai.

Chinese lending to and investment in central and eastern Europe is on the up. China has extended its reach to rival the influence of its western counterparts with its best weapon: money. But many bankers speaking to GlobalCapital this week think the trend is problematic.

China’s securities firms are about to be subject to an alarming rule that will limit their capacity to provide independent research. The decision to grade firms on their ability to manage the reputation of China and guide public opinion is a big step back for the country’s financial system.

Equity capital markets bankers and investors are coming to terms with the idea that there may not be a trade deal to end tensions between the US and China this year, despite the former delaying some of its latest tariffs on Chinese goods until the end of the year.

China IT company Chinasoft International has returned to the syndicated loan market after six years, seeking a HK$1bn ($127m) facility.

Zhenro Properties Group returned to the dollar bond market for the seventh time this year on Tuesday, tapping one of its March transactions for an additional $110m. But the market presented a whole different set of problems for the borrower this time round.