China

MSCI opened the door to A-shares in a landmark moment for China's reform and renminbi internationalisation agenda. Regulators, investors and analysts widely welcomed the decision, with many underlining that while initial impact of the inclusion may be limited, the first step has been taken to a rebalancing of global portfolios towards RMB assets.

Index provider MSCI decided it was time to include A-shares in its emerging markets index, making the announcement just before 5am Hong Kong time on June 21. Chinese onshore stocks will make up 0.73% of the MSCI Emerging Markets index starting May 2018.

The fate of Chinese A-shares in the MSCI emerging market index will be known on June 21 at about 4.30am Hong Kong time. While the likelihood of inclusion has gone up after MSCI’s latest consultation paper from March, experts are not expecting sizable capital inflows into Chinese equities to follow.

The Bond Connect will likely make its debut on July 3, Tae Yoo, head of client business development at the Hong Kong Exchange, told an industry event on Tuesday. While a full blueprint for the scheme is yet to be provided, what is clear is that Bond Connect investors will not have access to the onshore hedging market.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s Hong Kong branch made a quick return to the floating rate bond market, raising $700m from a dual-tranche outing on Monday. The lender was focusing more on price over size, with its five year proving to be investors’ sweet spot, according to bankers.

High-end solar panel maker REC Solar has tasted success with its first Asian syndicated loan attracting enough demand for it to raise $330m after exercising a $25m greenshoe.

Road King Infrastructure grabbed $300m on Monday from the sale of its second fixed for life perpetual bond this year, taking advantage of investors’ eagerness for yield.

The Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE) has signed an agreement with the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) to launch a green bond index that will provide synchronous quotes in China and Europe.

Brightoil Petroleum (Holdings) is marketing its maiden international bond, while Gome Electrical Appliances Holdings is taking bids for a tap of notes printed earlier this year. China Gold International Resources Corp, meanwhile, is meeting investors later this week for its second offshore outing.

Few would have predicted that in the year following the election of Donald Trump, which was identified by all as a catastrophe for bond markets, the CEEMEA region would record its busiest year to date. But over and above volumes, the range of products and instruments on offer, from an increasingly wide range of issuers, shows the CEEMEA bond market is maturing nicely. By Virginia Furness.

Dongying Lufang Metals Material HK has rolled out a $200m syndicated deal with two mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners. It is looking to refinance a one year loan from last year that falls due soon.

China Reinsurance Finance Corp is looking to tap its 2022 notes issued in March.