China

China tested the limits of reform in its stock market this week with disastrous consequences. Equity markets fell globally after China heaved yet more volatility on investors, and mainland stocks saw their worst ever start to the year. The turmoil caught equity capital market bankers off guard, but panic has not set in yet, writes John Loh.

Loans bankers have traded in cautious optimism for realism this year, as weaker currencies and loosening monetary conditions across Asia are expected to weigh on demand for foreign currency debt. Even silver linings such as a potential pick-up in loan activity from India and increased outbound M&A will provide little respite, writes Shruti Chaturvedi.

The heavily oversubscribed books for the year’s first three Asia ex-Japan bond deals should not be taken as a sign that issuers will have an easy time in 2016. With macro concerns linked to China once again rearing their ugly head, market participants are predicting a tough year ahead. Rev Hui reports.

China has taken its first step towards fulfilling its environmental ambitions, unveiling guidelines for issuing green bonds in its interbank bond market.

Hungary will meet investors in Hong Kong and Singapore as it prepares ground to issue the first ever sovereign dim sum bond from the CEEMEA region.

Jiangsu NewHeadLine (NHL) broke new ground this week, selling the first high yield bond from a local government financing vehicle. Market participants expect this to be the first of many to come, as the asset class offers both a government link and a yield pick-up over investment grade counterparts.

The Chinese circuit breaker mechanism shut down stock trading for the second time in just four days on January 7. Despite the 12% drop in the Shanghai Composite Index (SHCOMP) since end of 2015, Macquarie expects MSCI to finally green light A-shares inclusion for its popular global stock indices in June.

Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia is set to make its first outing to the international bond market having mandated three banks to arrange a series of fixed income meetings.

The Chinese auto ABS market is revving up for 2016 with Volkswagen poised to launch a Rmb2.99bn ($460m) Driver China Three next week.

The October 2015 launch of the cross-border interbank payment system (CIPS) opened the door to creating a global RMB payment infrastructure. But, for now, the limited number of participants involved dampens the new infrastructure's potential impact.

Yingda International Leasing is making its debut in the Hong Kong and US dollar loan markets with a $200m dual-currency facility as it looks to increase its visibility among international lenders.

High yield investors are facing a unique proposition with Jiangsu NewHeadLine (NHL) opening books to a three year dollar bond on January 6, in what would be a rare high yielding credit that is linked to a local Chinese municipal government.