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Italy is considering the sustainability-linked bond format pioneered by Italian electricity and gas company Enel, but Davide Iacovoni, head of Italy’s debt management office, thinks the structure may not suit the sovereign’s priorities of ensuring liquidity and maximising reach.

In this round-up, China could face a downgrade to its sovereign rating, Hong Kong’s finance secretary expects a “tsunami-like” impact on the economy from the Covid-19 outbreak, and the Chinese securities regulator relaxed rules on stock issuance.

In this round-up, the number of novel coronavirus infections increased by 14,840 in a single day after the Hubei province changed its diagnosis methodology, China has put the former mayor of Shanghai in charge of Hubei amid the prolonged outbreak, and regulators have given the green light to MasterCard’s long-awaited entry to the Mainland market.

Polite society does not tolerate smokers the way it used to. What was once a ubiquitous habit is now banished to outdoors in many countries. Tobacco investment is a rarer beast too these days, reflecting how deeply ethical preferences can affect capital markets. Now oil and gas securities could be about to face a similar shift.

Deutsche Bank’s ability to issue a new additional tier one bond illustrates the lesson of investing in European banks over recent years: bet on bonds, not equity.

Argentina's plans to restructure $67bn of debt in under two months may look naive to some but the ambition the government has so far demonstrated point towards a good outcome.

Negotiations may involve a degree of posturing, but as demonstrated with the plan to demand “permanent equivalence” with the EU over financial regulation, it is not clear what future the UK government wants for one of its most important industries.

In a negative interest rates environment, dividend strategies are becoming increasingly popular as a way to create positive yield for investors.

The coronavirus outbreak is already having an impact on my jet-setting retirement lifestyle. I suppose I shouldn’t complain ─ but I will.

Chinese regulators will have to strike a balance between supporting the use of the domestic bond market to help combat the deadly outbreak of the coronavirus, now officially known as Covid-19, and preventing the misuse of it.

A recent move to encourage Philippine property companies to sell real estate investment trusts (Reits) looks set to give a much-needed boost to the market. The country has long suffered from a paucity of deals. It may finally be ready to turn a corner.

The yields on bank bonds have reached their lowest ever levels in recent weeks, thanks to meagre issuance and accommodative central bank policy. These conditions mean investors can see the silver linings, but not the clouds — and there are plenty — behind them.