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The UK Treasury’s decision to raise the cost of borrowing for local authorities has caused quite a stir in private placement markets, as players realise institutional investors are prepared to offer debt at more attractive rates than the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB). But the more adventurous local authorities may find capital markets a tougher pitch to play on, writes Silas Brown.

Bankers and journalists often complain about how much things have changed in Hong Kong, with long lunches and even longer nights making way for rigid meetings, PowerPoint presentations and low-fat lattes. Taipan was reminded of the old ways this week ─ and his head is still throbbing.

Asian issuers tend to treat the 144A market as little more than a sideshow, rarely putting in the extra work to bring their deals to US investors. That needs to change.

After another delay to the IPO of Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) may have to accept that international fund managers may never value the kingdom’s prize asset as much as its royal family does, but local investors just might.

Chinese regulators are planning to rate the bond underwriting ability of securities firms. That may appear a sensible solution to an exchange bond market that has become cutthroat and chaotic. But the proposed solution is too vague to have much impact.

In this round-up, the Shanghai Stock Exchange said it will allow onshore investors to buy Hong Kong-listed dual-class shares, the International Monetary Fund urged the US and China to reach a trade deal and the Mainland securities regulator published guidance on securities houses’ bond underwriting practices.

The World Bank is hoping to step up its activity as an intermediary in commodity hedging transactions, providing credit enhancements for its clients in their arrangements with insurers to protect them from external shocks

Central bankers from Sri Lanka and Indonesia tell GlobalMarkets why Asian countries are annoyed with the IMF for not ensuring that their countries’ voting shares in the fund match the size and characteristics of their economies and so leave them with less of a voice

India has become the latest emerging market to use its sovereign wealth fund to move into the infrastructure arena. Managing director Sujoy Bose tells GlobalMarkets that investors could make a return as high as 18% but investors still fret over bureaucracy

The head of Indonesia’s fiscal policy agency tells GlobalMarkets that his country is determined to hit its pledge to cut carbon emissions by 30% and called on policymakers to put a robust carbon tax back on the political agenda

The current system of globalisation with the United States at its centre looks set to crumble and be replaced by a new global system anchored around China, leading economists have told GlobalMarkets

The increasingly obvious threat of climate change is leading central banks into new territory, as they begin to analyse the risks it poses to the financial system. It is stretching them intellectually and posing new questions about how they interpret their mandates, and whether they can lead society or must travel at its pace.