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Banks are doing whatever they can to attract some tech company glamour. JP Morgan's CFO Marianne Lake claimed the bank was a tech firm at its investor day on Tuesday. Lloyd Blankfein has made the same claim for Goldman Sachs. Now every self-respecting bulge bracket firm has an in-house incubator — even Commerzbank has a couple. Banks are desperate to inject some Silicon Valley sparkle.

Issuers, bankers, brokers and analysts gathered in Hong Kong at the JW Marriot hotel on February 17 to celebrate the achievements of those who were top-ranked in Asiamoney polls in 2015 or who had won deal or bank awards.

HSBC is the ultimate test for the international rules on total loss-absorbing capacity (TLAC). If they don’t work for that shop, then how can anyone be certain they will work elsewhere? That’s why it is worrying that the bank has had to compromise its TLAC plan.

Saipem’s unfortunate €3.5bn capital raise could have wide-ranging consequences for other firms desperately in need of fresh cash to weather the commodities downturn.

For years market participants have been talking about India’s potential in the international bond market but volumes have always disappointed. While this week’s return of National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) to dollars have got enthusiasts talking once again, their excitement is likely to be short lived.

It was a challenging year for Australian capital markets in 2015 as the fall in commodity prices and volatile conditions made executing deals that much tougher. So it is testament to the depth and breadth of banks in Australia that so many were able to produce standout performances. Our thanks to all those firms that took the time to pitch. Full write-ups of each award will be published in the next Asiamoney supplement in late March.

In one very refreshing coffee meeting this week, the Ranger was reminded that one of its most beloved contacts doesn’t sugar the pill when it comes to speaking his mind.

With result season now in full swing after the Lunar New Year holidays, now is perhaps an opportune time to reflect on the fact that Hong Kong remains one of the few major markets around the world (and in Asia in particular) not to require companies listed on its Main Board to publish quarterly accounts. With talk of a third board to attract smaller companies with lower listing requirements, and recurring issues with disclosure (or lack thereof) by smaller listed businesses, a change in the rules is probably long overdue, writes Philippe Espinasse.

China has become the biggest and arguably the most important capital market in Asia. The size and scope of transactions combined with the fast pace of reform is influencing capital markets well outside the country’s borders. In our first China Deals and Investment Bank of the Year Awards, we select the standout transactions and institutions. Our thanks to all those firms that took the time to pitch. Full write-ups of each award will be published in the next Asiamoney supplement in late March.

Like the film of the same name, investment bank 'matrix' structures make GlobalCapital’s head hurt, and become tedious when they’re repeated a few times. Trying to decipher which banker is responsible for which business becomes a complex head-scratcher. One imagines revenue-credit discussions are similarly painful.

Bahrain joined Poland this week in the dubious honour of being downgraded by Standard & Poor’s after the pricing of a new bond but before settlement.

"Big Oil peers into the abyss," declared The Economist in the summer of 1986, hailing the world’s third oil shock. Its famous forerunners of 1973 and 1979 featured huge OPEC price hikes. The 1986 shock, by contrast, starred a 70% price fall — from $32 a barrel to below $10.