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If the SSA market can withstand a rudderless Italy — the world’s fourth biggest bond market and the eurozone’s third largest economy — it can withstand Cypriot bail-out uncertainty. Whatever schemes European powers dream up for rustling up Cyprus’s bail-out funds, those in government bond markets would be ill-advised to read too much into it.

The botched bank job in Cyprus has clearly thrown in a spanner in the works for Asian bond bankers, but they have shown before that they can work around problems from Europe. The biggest hurdles are not fundamental, they are technical. The sheer scale of supply building up now means bankers are in for a rocky ride over the next few months.

If 'Abenomics' wins, everyone stands to gain; but if the stars don't align properly, a 'day or reckoning' follows

Credit enhancement structures for offshore Chinese bond deals are deteriorating both in terms of the quality of the structure itself and the quality of the standalone credit, according to Fidelity.

With the support and encouragement of Bank Negara Malaysia, financial institutions in the country are offering increasingly diverse financing options when it comes to processing their payments and receivables needs. Utilising such options is cost-efficient and helps reduce mistakes, but it is taking time to convince clients to shift to computer-based transaction banking. ASIAMONEY speaks to a panel of experts about what to expect in this fast-evolving sector.

The country’s family-run industrial groups are using their heft to expand into sectors traditionally operated by small businesses. Newly installed President Park Geun-hye has promised to hold them to greater accountability, but such promises are hollow without wholesale restructuring

The country’s equities markets are on the rise after years of turgid returns. Beijing needs to implement market reform and evolve the country’s investor base if it is to ensure that this increase is sustained.

With the woes of the eurozone looking to have passed, cash-rich Asian central banks and sovereign funds have increasingly become attracted to top-rated debt from the continent. It’s been a mutually beneficial arrangement. Chris Wright reports.

Experts may disagree on which of the region’s currencies are likely to appreciate the fastest against the US dollar, but with one prominent exception foreign exchange rates in the region look a one-way bet. Chris Wright reports.

The Japanese bank has pared back its global ambitions to focus primarily on fixed income outside its home market. Its belt-tightening has returned it to profitability but questions remain over whether it can sustain its new business model alone over the long-term. Peter McGill reports.

A great deal of hype has emerged about retail investors selling down their debt exposures and turning to equity markets. But private bank experts say investor preferences are more nuanced, and that any true asset rotation is still some way off.

Will Asia’s bond market performance suffer from improving equity conditions?