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Moody’s sudden downgrade of Co-op Bank gave investors a very nasty shock, turning their senior debt into junk in one fell swoop. Bankers insist that this is an isolated case — but in reality it shows that investors are ignoring bail-in risk.

It is not just the catalogue of bank misdemeanors that is putting graduates off the industry. The historic inability of banks and bankers to articulate the good they can do is as much to blame.

The Canadian dollar has been out of favour with SSA issuers since the crisis, with issuance still meagre compared to 2007. Local investors remain focused on local public sector issuers. But a spate of fresh deals in the currency offers issuers some encouragement. They should ignore the locals — it’s an international market, after all.

The Indian market regulator has intervened in the normal functioning of markets once too often. Its latest wheeze is nothing short of crazy.

China-based corporates are looking forward to the development of renminbi-denominated syndicated loans in both the offshore and onshore markets as they look to expand their fundraising options.

Fund managers and dim sum bond issuers agree that the offshore renminbi bond market lacks diversity. Greater variety depends on fostering liquidity, and paying special attention to arbitrage opportunities.

The antipodean nation has become the third country to initiate direct trading between its currency and the Chinese renminbi. But the full potential of this change can only be realised once China liberalises its capital controls. Ben Power reports.

The country’s unprecedented monetary easing is raising hopes that the public will finally ditch old investing habits and buy riskier assets. But they will only do so if the central bank and government can demonstrate concrete growth signals and financial market stability.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa intend to launch a development bank that rivals existing supranationals. While the new institution enjoys some strong backers, it faces several complications, not least China’s own ambitions.

How concerning is the rise of local government debt levels and off-balance sheet products for Chinese banks?

The rapid development of technology in the cash management space has enabled the birth of bank payment obligations (BPO). This much-talked about instrument has the potential to propel trade finance globally, boosting cost-effectiveness and payment efficiency.

Russia has embarked on a new drive to exert it influence in the EBRD region – through wealth rather than military power