China

China Grand Automotive Services raised an additional $100m last Friday from a tap of its perpetual non call three notes, to repay debt and for general corporate purposes.

First Capital Securities will acquire JP Morgan’s 33.3% stake in its Chinese joint venture, according to a filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

All eyes will be on the renminbi this week with the dollar fix edging closer to 7, despite a slight reprieve on Monday. Meanwhile, Shenzhen Connect fails to click with Korean investors, while CNH deposits are starting to recover in the country.

China Vanke Co bagged $600m on Thursday from its first international bond in more than three years, sneaking into the market the day after the Federal Reserve announced a rate hike.

Xuzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone State Asset Management Co raised $200m in its inaugural offshore deal, paying up more than expected to appease investors.

In this weekly round-up, the US Federal Reserve interest rate hike is pushing the RMB even lower against the dollar, a fresh batch of free trade zones could be approved for an early 2017 launch, and Tunisia’s central bank is looking at a Panda bond deal. Plus, a recap of our coverage.

It’s that time of year when analysts dust off their crystal balls and make predictions for the next 12 months. In December 2015 not many were forecasting that Britain would vote to leave the EU, and even fewer were betting on a Donald Trump presidential victory, so investors would be wise to treat such missives with caution. Political risk is a capricious beast, even for the most seasoned market observers.

Next year’s Asian loan market could see a shift in dynamics as lenders juggle rate hikes and abundant liquidity. Borrowers could also turn away from bonds in favour of syndicated lending, setting the stage for a year of growth, writes Shruti Chaturvedi.

The many Chinese issuers seeking offshore funding will need to negotiate a delicate dance in the new year. Volatility has rocked markets in the last 12 months, meaning issuers will have to stay nimble if they want to garner investor attention. Morgan Davis and Addison Gong report.

Shandong Ruyi Technology Group grabbed the market’s attention with its debut international bond on Tuesday, reeling in investors searching for an alternative to notes from local government financing vehicles.

Local government financing vehicle (LGFV) Xuzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone State Asset Management Co and property developer China Vanke Co announced their respective dollar-denominated bonds on Thursday, following the US Federal Reserve’s decision to lift interest rates.

From China’s circuit breaker mayhem to a shock Brexit result and victory for Donald Trump, volatility was not on short supply this year. But after months of ducking for cover, equity bankers are emerging, if tentatively, from under their desks. For equity capital markets, the outlook on China is brightening, writes John Loh.