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Vietnam has impressed the market by removing limits on foreign ownership of stocks in many listed companies, a move that has thrust it into the international spotlight. But while a spurt of new IPOs and more outside investment is expected, leading companies may stay away, reports Rashmi Kumar

The spectacular rise in China’s A-share market has been the stuff of dreams, capturing the imagination of investors the world over. But after a violent correction, Asia’s equity capital markets are on a knife edge, and bankers hope the market will find some calm in the summer, before the year’s biggest trades hit screens in the fourth quarter, writes John Loh.

Hong Kong is a city where people always come and go. The revolving door means there are always plenty of welcoming and going away parties taking place. But even in this city of nomads, having to welcome someone back only a month after bidding them farewell is a little awkward.

Asia ex-Japan’s bond market has not avoided the shockwaves from the Greek crisis, with debt issuance grinding to a halt this week. But while most attention is on Athens, market observers in Asia said that the real threat is closer to home, writes Narae Kim.

Voters in Asiamoney's Cash Management Poll - the biggest of its kind in the region - split their admiration between four banks with US, European and Asian names taking the top spots.

Syndicate bankers fully expected a shutdown of corporate bonds this week amid Europe’s Greek turmoil, since many issuers had taken advantage of rosier conditions in the year’s first half and could afford to sit out volatile markets until at least the Greek referendum on Sunday.

Although those in the CEEMEA bond market seem to have given up for the summer already, two SSAs — International Finance Facility for Immunisation and the International Finance Corporation — as well as Arab Petroleum Investments Corp have mandated banks for a sukuk.

The reaction from Europe’s capital markets this week is far from what Greece’s government politicians may have been hoping for, after talks broke down this weekend.

After years of inactivity, Asia will finally get the first legislative covered bonds from South Korea’s Kookmin Bank and Singapore’s DBS. But even though governments are keen on the product, the asset class is unlikely to truly blossom in the region.

It’s been a tough year in CEEMEA bonds, with volumes drooping lower than Putin’s man boobs.

At long last, the operator of Hong Kong's stock exchange has published conclusions to its concept paper on weighted voting rights (WVRs). Almost as soon as it did, Hong Kong's other regulator expressed its opposition to the idea. But WVRs were always a worrying development. More urgent reforms are needed for the exchange to compare favourably with New York or London, writes Philippe Espinasse.

Imagine a technology that lets you seamlessly share data with colleagues, collaborate on projects and communicate accurately in real time. Of course, you don’t have to; everybody has a dozen devices with all of these features already. But for all that, primary bond markets have been stuck in the dark ages.