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The noise about how capitalism is changing to a system in which social purpose is restored to the centre of companies' and investors' aims is now deafening. But look below the surface and the actual governance record of many companies and investors is dreadful. Most shareholders are too supine even to defend their own rights.

Capital markets went into 2020 in positive mood. That lasted for all of two working days until the US assassinated Iranian military commander, Qasem Soleimani, worrying investors that Middle East tensions were on the rise again. Nonetheless, the good feeling was not entirely soured. GlobalCapital highlights where the rest of the action will be in the year ahead.

Equity market participants were stunned last Friday after the US assassinated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. It followed what had been a strong end to 2019 in the market with many hopeful the momentum would carry into this year. But banks and investors need to be prepared for shocks, especially as domestic pressure on US president Donald Trump increases in the run up to November's election.

Short sellers' detractors say they are detrimental to the responsible stewardship of companies. This is unfair; they can play a useful role in highlighting deceptive practices in a world of greenwashing.

In this round-up, China’s central bank cut the required reserve ratio by 50bp on Monday, domestic financial institutions have been told to price loans based on the new benchmark and regulators have published draft rules on dealing with corporate bond defaults.

GlobalCapital has penned an open letter to UK prime minister Boris Johnson ahead of his negotiations next year on the UK's future relationship with the European Union.

In this round-up, Chinese president Xi Jinping headed to Macau for the 20th anniversary of the handover, the National People’s Congress will hold a fourth reading of the Securities Law next week and the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has lowered the 14-day reverse repo rate.

In this round-up, state buyers are set to bail out Shandong-based Hengfeng Bank, the renminbi’s international usage rebounded in November after a slight drop in October, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group’s securities brokerage affiliate plans to set up a wholly-owned China unit.

In the final part of GlobalCapital China’s awards announcement, we discuss the key innovation of 2019, and reveal the individual that has made the greatest contribution to reforming and internationalising the Chinese onshore market.

In the second part of GlobalCapital China’s awards announcement, we reveal the winning banks across Panda bonds, G3 bonds and ABS, as well as the best bank for securities services and the most impressive law firm.

In the fourth and final instalment of GlobalCapital Asia’s capital markets awards announcements, find out which firms have been named the Best Asian Investment Bank and the Best Investment Bank in the region for 2019.

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) are increasingly moving into local currency funding. Now medium-term note (MTN) dealers need to dust off their EM currency investor Rolodexes, as this shift offers a much-needed business opportunity for them.